TY - JOUR T1 - How Far to Babylon? JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 3 LP - 3 DO - 10.3399/bjgp17X693941 VL - 68 IS - 666 AU - Roger Jones Y1 - 2018/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/68/666/3.abstract N2 - The consultation, the central activity of general practice, is the theme of this issue of the BJGP. This brief yet potent encounter has been endlessly discussed and dissected. What goes on in it and what should go on? How can it be structured and choreographed? How long is it and how long should it be? What happens when an intruder appears — a trainee, a relative, an interpreter, a medical student? A computer? How do we make it easy for patients to get one — but not have too many? We do at least know that consultations are getting longer and more complex, reflecting the changing demography, epidemiology, and health-related behaviour of our patient populations, and their expectations of health care, as well as the pressures within the health and social care system for general practice … ER -