THE poetry of Robert Burns could be used alongside lessons in pharmacology and pathology to help medical students become better doctors.

That is the message being sent out ahead of a meeting at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh today which will discuss how insights from art, literature and music can help doctors respond to patients with care and compassion.

Led by the former chief medical officer, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman and the former chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland, Professor John Gillies, the discussions will emphasise that although medicine is a science, its practice can benefit greatly from the arts.

Art, literature and music, known collectively as the humanities, provide invaluable insights into the human condition and the meeting will argue they should be taught to all doctors.

Interest in this area has expanded considerably over the past 30 years and there have been a number of initiatives. For the past three years, every newly qualified doctor in Scotland has been gifted a book of specially selected poetry called “Tools of the Trade” to carry with them as they start their medical career.

There is concern, however, that in the pressurised world of healthcare, patients can be seen more as a collection of symptoms than as individuals. The result is a lack of compassion and empathy for patients as people.

The meeting, to be attended by representatives of all Scotland’s medical schools, will discuss what can be done about this problem. Professor Gillies said: “This proposal is the first step in an initiative to develop the use of the humanities both within the undergraduate medical course, and potentially beyond.”

Calman said: “We want to support doctors to realise that while writing prescriptions may be easy, coming to an understanding with people is difficult.”