The New Contract and Relationships in General Practice

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Abstract
Describes relationships in general practice and the manner in which these have changed since the implementation of the new contract in 1990 – based on the perceptions of 20 urban general practitioners revealed by an open‐ended, unstructured interview approach aiming to uncover the doctors′ points of view rather than to reflect the assumptions of the investigator. Focuses on the doctor‐patient interaction; the problem of communication with the Family Health Service Authority; the effect of the contract on the ancillary staff relationships with the doctor and the patientss the effect on partnerships and finally, the impact of the new contract requirements on the general practitioner′s family life and personal relationships. Suggests that relationships in general practice have become more difficult since the implementation of the new contract.