Introduction

The most common medical intervention is medicine supply. Medicines allow the prevention, treatment and ongoing management of a wide range of illnesses at a relatively low cost.

In contrast to this biomedical approach, the biopsychosocial model (Figure 1) considers social, environmental, and psychological factors that impact health and wellbeing, and empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own health.

Similarly, the lifestyle medicine model (Figure 2) considers six areas impacting on health and wellbeing: sleep, relationships, stress management, physical activity, healthy eating and use of risky substances/behaviours.

A wider patient view is key to the more holistic, person-centred approach to healthcare that is now being advocated for. Practically in primary care, with GP appointments limited to 10 minutes, this person-centred approach can be challenging.