Using telephones in primary care

Reading the literature, it often feels as if the main purpose of the telephone is to keep patients at arm's length, its use assessed by its impact on medical workload rather than by improved access and convenience for them. 3 For more than a decade enthusiasts have encouraged consulting over the telephone and documented their experience, yet their findings have had little impact on general practice as a whole. 4 5 6 Despite its support for NHS Direct, the government shows little interest in other aspects of telephone access, and the General Medical Council's guidance on the subject makes telephone consulting feel like a slightly shady activity, best avoided by respectable and prudent practitioners. 7 These negative attitudes are curious.