British doctors overworked?

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 2

British doctors overworked?

NZPA staff correspondent London

HUGH BARLOW

By

The average family doctor in Britain spends 19 hours a week seeing patients — 15 hours in their surgery and four in the patients’ homes. Even so, more than half considered themselves overworked, according to a report by two university doctors published in the Royal College of General Practioners’ monthly magazine. The doctors said, however, that it would be misleading to think G.P.s worked only a 19-hour week. A great deal of time was spent on administration, maintaining patients’ records, corresponding with hospitals, examining laboratory tests, and holding meetings with colleagues. The survey uncovered wide variations in doctors’ work practices. Some made 40 home visits a week while others made four or less, and while some saw their elderly patients twice a year, others saw them eight or more times. More industrious doc-. tors were not rewarded

with extra income. Under the National Health Service general practitioners are paid according to the number of patients registered with the surgery and not for the number of patients they see. The system gives doctors an average income of £25,000 ($70,500).

The report said care for the elderly in particular would improve if payments were made according to the work done.