TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in perception of workload JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 389 LP - 390 VL - 54 IS - 502 AU - Chris Gunstone Y1 - 2004/05/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/54/502/389.3.abstract N2 - Dr Mulka has written an excellent and stimulating article.1 He certainly demonstrates a difference in workload between the years. I believe it demonstrates primarily a change in perception, not increased workload.Numbers of patients seen are less. Time spent seeing those patients is similar, if one factors in time for visits. If one assumes 20 minutes per visit, he spent 34 hours in 1982 and 13 in 2002, or if 30 minutes, then 51 and 20 hours respectively. Added to the hours in surgery, this equals 92 or 109 hours in 1982, and 97 or 104 hours in 2002.He sees a different type of patient. As he says, he has grown older with his patients, so they have more complex problems, but does a new doctor have a different workload to an established doctor? The type of patient he saw in 1982 was the sort a GP registrar could expect … ER -