Embracing clinical supervision

The article ‘Moving on from Balint’ by Dr John Launer, that appeared as an Editorial in the last issue of BJGP¹ is very timely and forward looking. I had the privilege of taking part in GP seminar's run by the Tavistock Clinic, for nearly 13 years. Through attending and taking active part in this professional development my quality of consultation and communication skills improved a great deal. At these seminars we had the benefit of a very senior and experienced psychoanalyst as the group leader, who helped us to discuss all the aspects of the case. During the time of my attending the seminar we also studied the pattern of referral to the hospitals, accidents and injuries. In the group we mainly discussed the patients who had psychological problems, but during the course of the discussion we also had the chance to see the recent developments, and evidence-based medicine as the discussion of the case progressed and the way it unfolded. In my mind I cannot think of any better form of supervision than these seminar's, where your management of the case is scrutinised, the presenting doctor is grilled, and applauded as well for some innovative ideas.

It is sad to note that these Balint groups are virtually defunct. Perhaps we have moved very fast with modern technology that doctors do not understand their patients, let alone the illness.