<<I don't want to inflate your egos too much but it seems to me as a
layperson
that those GPs on this list are very concerned GPs. Concerned about all
aspects of the profession, how it is run, how the patient is served, how to
do the job as best as possible while maintaining some semblance of
sanity.>>

Quite correct.

<< How could such security be maintained if you
don't even know where they are? How can you carry out a consultation
without
them?>>
Been to any hospital recently??

<< but is the standard of doctoring as high as you
yourselves would believe or portray?>>
(sticking neck out about five miles here!)   No I don't think it is.   I
know that I, when in practice, did a better job in most ways than many
others.  I also know that most of the active contributors to this list are
better than I was in many ways.    But maintaining my high self-imposed
standards basically destroyed my health and I have just resigned from GP to
pursue other pathways which don't involved sitting facing patients in
surgeries.  So who is right? Who is the "best" doctor?  The one who gives
superb care but burns out in less than ten years? Or the one who manages
not to make too many mistakes and keeps going to pension age?  I don't know
the answer to that one. I *do* know that more flexibility in my own area
might well have allowed me to keep going for 20 years or so doing half or
three-quarter  time in my practice (and before anyone asks me what I mean
by "flexibility" I am not saying)---and I think that those in charge have a
duty these days to keep those of us who are clearly doing a good job in
that job if possible.
Instead look at what is happening.   Ahmad is off because he is buggered
around;  Midge is discriminated against for PCs and staff because he dares
to criticise senior HA figures;  various others on this list (who we all
*know* are damned good) are suffering in various ways and several are
looking for a way out of NHS GP.   So, putting on my management consultant
hat (£400 a day plus expenses, no exceptions)  I conclude that our NHS GP
system is a mess.  What else is new?   It is going to get worse.  Did you
hear that crap Dobbo was feeding to the faithful today?  AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

<<. Is it a function
of the Internet that attracts a certain type of mentality?>>
It is not the internet per se.  It is the interest in and dedication to the
job and the profession.  I think that most of the active members of this
list do a lot more than "just" sit in the surgery---teaching,  med pols,
etc etc etc.  Those who are most interested in the stuff are ---well, most
interested.
Declan


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