Philip Pullman on the importance of storytelling in patient care

Green Templeton was thrilled to welcome novelist Philip Pullman to give this year’s Ann McPherson Memorial Lecture, exploring the place storytelling has in our lives.

The His Dark Materials author focused his talk on the work done by the late Ann McPherson and others in paying proper attention to the stories and experiences of patients.

‘Ann was widely known as one of the leaders of the movement towards encouraging doctors to listen to patients,’ said Philip. ‘Why it took over three thousand years to think that was a good idea I don’t know.

‘In fact, of course, the best doctors have always been listening to patients and thinking about what they hear. But Ann and her colleagues paved the way towards a wider and deeper and more open understanding of why it was important to take a humane and decent, as well as more effective, approach to treating people who are suffering.  It represented a great advance in the struggle to make this country a civilized place to live in, a struggle which is still ongoing.’

Watch Philip Pullman’s talk:

The Ann McPherson Memorial Lectures celebrate the late Dr Ann McPherson, a Green Templeton College Fellow. Philip’s focus on storytelling in the lecture this year was particularly fitting as it is 20 years since the founding of the Dipex Charity in March 2001. Ann was the driving force behind establishing Dipex and the patient experience research published on the Healthtalk website. The site supports millions of people each year by sharing real people’s health stories. Philip’s talk spoke directly to these patient stories.

The Ann McPherson Tribute Fund is a celebration of Ann’s life and work and benefits a number of projects she initiated and supported, as well as the Ann McPherson Memorial Lectures. In 2021, there has been a focus on supporting the Dipex Charity and the ongoing lecture series. Details on how to donate to the Tribute Fund.