Seeing two doctors at once in general practice

Abstract

We report the reactions of 250 patients who saw two doctors together, a general-practitioner trainer and a vocational trainee, when they came to a general practice for consultation.

Over 80 per cent were neutral and the remainder were almost equally divided between those who preferred to see two doctors and those who preferred to see their own doctor alone.

Selected favourable statements outnumbered adverse comments by about ten to one, although allowance must be made for the desire of patients to please their doctor.