IN MYVIEW... YOUNEEDYOUR ‘OWN’GP—NOTASTRANGER

MY 93-YEAR- OLD neighbour recently tripped and fell at home. She severely bruised her face, but simply picked herself up. As she did that, a volunteer delivering audio books arrived and, after a brief discussion, took her to the local GP.

Not so long ago, my neighbour would have seen her own GP — a doctor who would have known her well enough to realise she was her usual self, apart from the bruising. Instead, the GP took one look at her and sent her to A&E 20 miles away.

The doctor there began a long list of tests, finishing with a CT scan. It was dark by the time she was sent home — without the results of her scan because the department was, by then, closed. There has been no follow-up since — no phone call, no visit from GP or nurse.

This scenario is all too common and, to my mind, illustrates how something vital has been lost in general practice — the one-to-one relationship between a patient and their ‘own’ doctor, a staple of the NHS since it was founded in 1948. This lack of personal connection may account for a new phenomenon: the inability of GPs to cope with uncertainty. This leads to what is called defensive medicine, in which tests are done on a ‘just in case’ basis, rather than relying on judgment, experience and skill.

The defensive medical care my neighbour received didn’t only expose her to unnecessary radiation, cost the NHS more money and add to the considerable burdens on the A&E department, it also illustrated the lack of care and kindness present in modern general practice.

However, there is hope on the horizon. Many younger and healthier patients are taking advantage of internet consultations for minor illnesses, such as respiratory infections or abdominal upsets.

This, I hope fervently, will free up GPs’ time, allowing them to build relationships with their more vulnerable patients and provide them with the care and attention they so richly deserve.