Do GPs really provide 47 minutes a year for the patient?

Published Date: 01st August 2012

Publication Authors: Irving G

Extract
The recently published RCGP report on medical generalism brings into focus the need for GPs to spend more time with patients to deliver high quality generalist care. Historically, the figure of 47 minutes a year for the patient has been widely cited and discussed as a summary statistic for the total consultation time a GP spends with each patient per year. This figure was first proposed in 1998 by Professor Sir Dennis Pereira Gray as a challenge to the ‘7-minute consultation’ summary statistic of the day. The figure was based on a calculation using data from the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Board (DDRB) workload survey and the General Household survey (GHS), now known as the General Lifestyle survey (GLS)

Irving, G; Reeve, J. (2012). Do GPs really provide 47 minutes a year for the patient?. British Journal of General Practice. 62 (601), 404-405

« Back