Perhaps, if we work less hard

doi:10.1136/bmj.39296.737639.3A

BMJ 2007;335:272 (11 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39296.737639.3A

Letters

Life saving general practice

Perhaps, if we work less hard

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I agree with Heath, but the reality of being a general practitioner(GP) can quickly erode noble sentiments.¹ In my 20 years asa full time GP I very much wanted to work by the tenets in thisarticle. But being a full time GP with an average list is hard,hard work. It is not just easy to get it wrong: getting it wrong,very wrong, is part of the process.

The work rate of most GPs is damaging to both patients and doctors.That work rate or "busyness" is often used as an excuse for"getting it wrong." However, it is that work rate which makesGPs so economical. To complete that argument, GPs are efficientand cheap because they half do things. Usually we get away withit and we will use our "luck" to rationalise our failures. Butthat is changing, and in my latter years . . . [Full text of this article]

Graeme Mackenzie, out of hours general practitioner

North Cumbria

graeme@papmacks.co.uk