Intended for healthcare professionals

  1. What's the point
  2. What's the point
Fillers

What's the point

BMJ 2004; 330 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.330.7481.22 (Published 30 December 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;330:22
  1. Melvyn Jones, lecturer in general practice (m.jones{at}pcps.ucl.ac.uk)
  1. department of primary care and population sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London

Points, points? I am running to time and thinking, “Can I get some points in this consultation?” After all, in the new world of general practice where points make prizes, dealing with the problem is no longer enough. The new UK GP contract has changed the interaction with patients by quantifying (and rewarding) certain clinical activities, particularly data collection.

My eyes quickly scan the prevention screen of the computer and see that we have no smoking status on this man. By this stage he has put his coat back on and is nearly at the door.

“Do you smoke?” I ask quickly.

He looks a bit puzzled and fumbles for his cigarettes: “Yes. Do you want one?”

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