Decline of the traditional family doctor revealed

[maureenho]

Decline of the traditional family doctor revealed
Traditional family doctor becomes a rare species as figures reveal sharp decline in small practices

[img]http://i.legraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02075/dr-finlay_2075793b.jpg[/img]
Medical wonders: the world of the traditional rural GP was idealised in Dr Finlay's Casebook, the BBC series that ran from 1962 to 1971 Photo: TONY GALE
Matthew Holehouse

By Matthew Holehouse, Political Correspondent

10:00PM BST 21 Apr 2014

England could lose the traditional family doctor, medics have warned, as new figures lay bare the steep decline in small GP practices.

Patients, particularly in rural areas, are travelling further and receiving a less personal service after the disappearance of hundreds of small GP practices over the past decade.

Under the last government, polyclinics – or super GP surgeries – with specialist doctors working on one site were seen as the future of the NHS.

Single-doctor clinics have becoming increasingly rare as GPs try to save money on premises and administrative staff.

At least 98 small GP practices, many providing vital services in rural areas, are at risk of closing after funding changes meant doctors no longer received a guaranteed level of income irrespective of the number of patients on their rolls.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10778519/Decline-of-the-traditional-family-doctor-revealed.html

[annie]

That is so sad. We still have a small practice with only 2 Drs & it works very well, I hope it continues

[wendy]

I appreciate very much our family surgery, it makes me feel very lucky.