All over the world, the traditional role of the general practitioner (GP) was that of the family doctor. When people tended to be less mobile and remain in the same home in the same town for years on end, these physicians would often care for families over the course of two or even three generations, creating a personal bond founded on mutual respect and trust.
As society has changed and its people have become more inclined to relocate, the relationship between the GP and their patients has also changed. The advent of large group practices has meant that patients are not always cared for by the same doctor, sometimes at the expense of the personal touch. One thing, however, has not changed. Whether as a partner or an employee of the practice or a locum, the general practitioner continues to be among the cornerstones of the healthcare services, both public and private. Other than in a dire emergency, when someone is unwell, the first step is invariably to make an appointment with a GP.
Although these doctors may be described as generalists, in many ways, the role of the GP amounts to a speciality in its own right. While not specialising in one particular aspect of healthcare like an ENT specialist or gynaecologist, the focus of the GP is on the health of a person as a whole and extends beyond the physical aspects of care to include psychological and social support. While home visits are gradually becoming a thing of the past, the services of a general practitioner can be especially important to those with a chronic illness. Having access to a local GP can often avoid the need to hospitalise them or for them to, perhaps travel long distances only to spend hours in a busy hospital waiting room before eventually being seen.
GPs also play an important preventative role, providing services such as child immunisation, family planning advice, and helping patients to quit smoking. Most, importantly, they are the first point of contact and this means they require broad diagnostic skills. In addition to recognising the common infectious diseases and illnesses involving the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, they must be familiar with any confirmatory laboratory tests that may be indicated, and able to perform those which can be undertaken on site. Finally, the general practitioner must be able to recognise when they need to refer a patient to a specialist physician or surgeon.
Intercare is dedicated to providing quality healthcare in South Africa and our mission begins by ensuring that our members are always able to access the services of an experienced GP.