TY - JOUR T1 - Back to the future in general practice JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 209 LP - 209 DO - 10.3399/bjgp16X684685 VL - 66 IS - 645 AU - Ashley Liston Y1 - 2016/04/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/66/645/209.abstract N2 - It is over 10 years since I joined my current practice, based in a 1970s health centre built as part of the Washington ‘new town’ development. In its day it must have appeared innovative and progressive with district nurses, health visitors, social services, outpatient facilities, X-ray, and physiotherapy services accommodated alongside the new GP practice. Over the years the practice partnerships split evolving into the current four practices sitting cheek by jowl with receptionists staring at each other across the shared waiting area. To a businessman it would be a ‘no-brainer’ for our practices to merge and immediately benefit from economies of scale. In general practice things are not so simple. The ‘cottage industry’ model is founded on small, close-knit teams providing personal care to … ER -