Figure 1.

Examples of time spent with patients over the 6-month period.

C/P=care plus (nurse plus general practitioner); Diet=dietitian; GP=general practitioner; NS=nurse; OP=optometrist; Pod=podiatrist; PT=patient.

Notes: In example 1, the patient had 4 contacts in 6 months (1 with the general practitioner, 2 with the practice nurse, 1 with an optometrist), and consultation times ranged from 10 to 70 minutes. In example 2, the patient had 11 contacts with a variety of professionals in 6 months, and consultation times ranged from 10 to 85 minutes. Spacing of encounters does not reflect actual intervals between them.