Published December 2024

Medicine as a Calling: Reflections by Dr Louise Cox

Medicine is more than a career; it’s a calling—a desire to make a difference in people’s lives, to solve complex medical issues, and to be truly present for patients. For me, becoming a doctor was never about the prestige or the title—it was about people. From the moment I began my journey into medicine, my goal has always been clear: to deliver meaningful, compassionate, and high-quality care.

Challenges in conventional healthcare
While the medical profession is deeply rewarding, the reality of practising within conventional healthcare systems often presents challenges that hinder a doctor’s ability to provide the kind of care they dream of delivering.

High patient caseloads often limit the time available for each individual, reducing consultations to rushed interactions. This can erode the doctor-patient relationship, leaving both doctor and patient feeling dissatisfied. Add to this the mounting administrative burdens—paperwork, protocols, and processes—and there’s precious little time left to focus on patient-centred or preventive care.

For many doctors, these constraints lead to frustration and burnout. It becomes harder to treat patients as whole individuals, to explore their concerns fully, or to provide the care they deserve.

Why did I choose private medicine?
Private medicine offers a way to restore the fundamental principles of what it means to care for another human being. At Concierge Medical, we have developed a model that removes these barriers, enabling us to practise medicine as it was meant to be—personal, attentive, and focused on the patient.

Time to listen and care: We have the luxury of time. Longer consultations allow us to delve deeply into a patient’s concerns, address multiple issues in a single visit, and ensure no stone is left unturned.

Direct access: Our patients can reach out to us directly, fostering trust and ensuring timely care when it’s needed most.

Home visits: Visiting patients in their own homes provides unique insights into their lives, their environments, and their needs. It also allows us to care for them in comfort and dignity, especially during vulnerable moments.

Whole-family care: Our model enables us to care for entire families, building long-term relationships and addressing health as a shared journey.

The privilege of end-of-life care
Perhaps the most profound aspect of being a doctor is the privilege of guiding patients and their families through the end-of-life process. This is where, in my experience, private medicine truly shines, enabling us to uphold dignity, respect, and compassion in ways that can be challenging in conventional systems.

It involves creating pathways to document and honour patients’ wishes for their final stages of life. Whether it’s ensuring they remain at home, surrounded by loved ones, or supporting their spiritual and emotional needs, these pathways are about listening, understanding, documenting and delivering care in line with their values.

Building trust is critical, having open conversations, exploring what truly matters to a patient, and providing support during a time when they are most vulnerable. For me, this role is not just a duty—it’s a privilege that defines the very essence of medicine.

Private medicine is a return to traditional medicine
Private medicine is not just a business model; it’s a return to what medicine should be—a partnership between doctor and patient, built on a foundation of trust, time, and compassion. It allows us to practise medicine as we were trained to, addressing not just symptoms but the person as a whole.

For me, being a doctor is about making a meaningful difference. It’s about the privilege of walking alongside my patients through all stages of life—from their happiest moments to their hardest—and ensuring they feel truly cared for every step of the way.

Dr Louise Cox