Abstract
A postal survey of 776 principals representative of general practice in Britain is described. Doctors working in health centres are compared both with colleagues in other group practices and with doctors who have no group practice allowance. Young doctors are mainly in group practice, especially health centres; the proportion of doctors who are not in groups is diminishing steadily, and they are mainly older. With some notable exceptions health centres provide most space, equipment, and staff; group practitioners in privately-owned premises spend more of their money on their practices, more often use appointment systems, and tend to make more efficient use of premises and staff. Overall, however, the picture is still one of general practice geared to the needs of practitioners working alone. Premises with space for sophisticated organization and for future teaching needs are unusual.
Scotland, the North of England, and Wales have fewer young doctors. Average lists are higher in the North of England, and less money is invested in practice premises.
Young doctors look for modern premises and the tools and staff for the job. If their career expectations are to be met the tremendous improvements made in some practices must be extended rapidly to the remainder.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Anderson J. A., Draper P. A., Kincaid I. T., Ambler M. C. Attachment of community nurses to general practices. A follow-up study. Br Med J. 1970 Oct 10;4(5727):103–105. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5727.103. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Drury M., Kuenssberg E. V. Inquiry into administrative activities in general practice. Br Med J. 1970 Oct 3;4(5726):42–44. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5726.42. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Eimerl T. S. Organized Curiosity: A Practical Approach to the Problem of Keeping Records for Research Purposes in General Practice. J Coll Gen Pract. 1960 May;3(2):246–252. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Marsh G. N. Visiting nurse--analysis of one year's work. Br Med J. 1969 Oct 4;4(5674):42–44. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5674.42. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pinsent R. J. The evolving age-sex register. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1968 Aug;16(2):127–134. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walker J. H., McClure L. M. Community nurses' view of general practice attachment. Br Med J. 1969 Sep 6;3(5670):584–587. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5670.584. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]