Difficulties over doctors

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 2

Difficulties over doctors

The basis of complaints against doctors has switched from shortages in their numbers to the failure of some of them to provide continuity of care over the last few years, according to the report. The report named the main problem as the difficulty that low-popu-lation areas sometimes face in obtaining doctors because of the low work load. It suggested that in some such cases the employment of resident practice nurses by doctors in adjacent towns who make periodic visits, or the use of public health or district nurses were satisfactory alternatives. The report said that while

s the shortage of doctors of i the 1960 s was well past, a - major resurgence in general e practice could be expected - over the next few years. The t increase in numbers over the e next 10 years recommended by the Medical Council repe resented an enormous undere taking. ■ The Medical Council has e said that by 1986 there e should be one general practitioner to every 1650 people e — an increase of 40 per t cent, or about 2165 doctors s over present numbers. s The present doctor-popu-r lation ratio is about 1:1980. r To achieve the recom- - mended improvement in the ratio, said the report, more e than 800 graduates would

need to be attracted into genera] practice. This represents about a third of the projected output of graduates in the next decade. The report expected that there would continue to be a small recruitment of overseas doctors. Some resistance to the size of the proposed general practitioner work force could be expected. There might, for example, be considerable changes to the economics of general practice. The report said that the problem of numbers was one of uneven distribution. There were only a few doctor vacancies in most health districts, but an oversupply in other areas.