[snugs]

In addition now many GP are based at health centres which can have a few thousand patients registered and have 4 or 5 doctors, nurses and other support staff. In theory they are supposed to be better because they can do minor ops and blood tests etc etc but they become very impersonal and cumbersome.

There also seems to be a reluctance to do home visits plus weekend cover to done by a organisation which the doctors take turn with and their office is based at the local hospital. So after you ring the number and the doctor gets back to you (within 2 hours) often if it is something simple they will leave a prescription at the office for you to collect. It was much better when a doctor from your local surgery covered at the weekend and actually visited you.

[Miss Marple]

snugs, the last home visit of a doctor that I can remember was when I was about 4 years old and had strep throat. After that, we had to go to the doctor's office.

I am 57. Home visits ended in the USA some time in the early 50's.