Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Views & Reviews From the Frontline

Doctors no longer need medical secretaries

BMJ 2013; 346 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f226 (Published 11 January 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f226

Rapid Response:

Re: Doctors no longer need medical secretaries

I'm not sure I'd want to dispense with these good ladies. They provided a valuable interface with the public; patients might reveal to them matters that they wouldn't otherwise say over the 'phone. 20+ years ago their pay scale was reduced cf. non-medical secretaries; I then felt that this was an attack on my communications system. My secretaries remained loyal. No real idea why; they all could have earned 50% more in the local Estate Agents.

Competing interests: No competing interests

24 January 2013
Patrick L Xavier
rtd
rtd
Billericay