Cartoon by John Sadler

• WHATEVER happened to the idea of the family doctor? Do they even exist any more?

I’ve been a patient at my GPs for almost 40 years. For most of those I would almost always see the same doctor (unless he was on holiday). Then he retired – seemingly driven crazy by mounting meaningless bureaucracy and targets.

For the past two years I have see a new different doctor virtually every time I go. Their pleasant young faces smile as, glued to the computer screen, they hurriedly skim through my records, trying to take in the lifetime medical history of a complete stranger.

Then a few moments of tentative chat. “How’s the smoking?” (I gave up 30 years ago.) A reference to a specialist if you’re lucky, then it’s thank you and goodbye. Not very reassuring or effective.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED