Abstract
OBJECTIVES--To examine the concerns of singlehanded general practitioners working in an inner London area and to compare the views of general practitioners in partnerships. DESIGN--Qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews with a random sample of singlehanded general practitioners and a sample of general practitioners from partnerships matched for age and sex. SETTING--The area covered by Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham Family Health Services Authority. RESULTS--The singlehanded general practitioners were more likely to be older, male, and first qualified abroad than general practitioners in partnerships. Their major concerns were inadequate premises, maintaining their singlehanded status, and coping with recent changes to their contract. Most were very satisfied with their solo status and did not see the provision of 24 hour care as stressful. CONCLUSION--Singlehanded general practitioners saw themselves as providing a unique service for patients, and their status as an alternative for general practitioners who were unhappy in partnerships. Such practices are unlikely to wither away as a pattern of provision. Any comprehensive development of primary care must take their needs into account.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- DUNNIGAN M. G., PATON J. P., HAASE S., McNICOL G. W., GARDNER M. D., SMITH C. M. Late rickets and osteomalacia in the Pakistani community in Glasgow. Scott Med J. 1962 Apr;7:159–167. doi: 10.1177/003693306200700402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gantley M., Davies D. P., Murcott A. Sudden infant death syndrome: links with infant care practices. BMJ. 1993 Jan 2;306(6869):16–20. doi: 10.1136/bmj.306.6869.16. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Henderson J. B., Dunnigan M. G., McIntosh W. B., Abdul Motaal A., Hole D. Asian osteomalacia is determined by dietary factors when exposure to ultraviolet radiation is restricted: a risk factor model. Q J Med. 1990 Sep;76(281):923–933. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Keeley D. The future of general practice: Personal care or the polyclinic? BMJ. 1991 Jun 22;302(6791):1514–1516. doi: 10.1136/bmj.302.6791.1514. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Makin P. J., Rout U., Cooper C. L. Job satisfaction and occupational stress among general practitioners--a pilot study. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1988 Jul;38(312):303–306. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Murphy E., Mattson B. Qualitative research and family practice: a marriage made in heaven? Fam Pract. 1992 Mar;9(1):85–91. doi: 10.1093/fampra/9.1.85. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zoltie N., Hoult G. Adequacy of general practitioners' premises for minor surgery. BMJ. 1991 Apr 20;302(6782):941–942. doi: 10.1136/bmj.302.6782.941. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]