Gynaecological problems should continue to be treated in primary care initially

BMJ 1996;312:1672-1673 (29 June)

Letters

Gynaecological problems should continue to be treated in primary care initially

EDITOR,--S K Smith's provocative editorial argues that a moremedical approach is needed in gynaecology.¹ We are general practitionersin a busy group practice. One of us (DS) has a diploma fromthe Faculty of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Careof the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; theother (CS) is a member of the same faculty, an instructing doctorin family planning, and a member of the British Menopause Society.We therefore have an interest in general practice gynaecology,which is a considerable part of our everyday work.

We think that Smith should elaborate on one of the sentencesin the editorial: "The gynaecologists' bias against medicaltreatments is unlikely to be reduced while general practitioners,understandably less knowledgeable as they are, embark on ineffectivemedical treatments before referring patients to specialists."Is Smith suggesting that all patients with any sort of gynaecologicalproblem should be referred . . . [Full text of this article]

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