Patient encounters in very deprived areas.

摘要

Early in the Deep End project, 15 GPs met for a workshop on patient encounters in very deprived areas, drawing on experience, evidence, and policy, and focusing on what can be achieved and how. Consultations with patients are the largest and most important part of the work of GPs. In severely deprived areas, consultations are characterised by multiple morbidity (including psychological and social problems), reduced expectations, time constraints, lower patient enablement, and practitioner stress. Consultations always address the problems presented by patients on the day (reactive care), but can also address potential future problems (anticipatory care). A key aspect of the consultation is the relationship between the patient and the doctor, who often know each other from previous consultations. This prior experience is an important aspect of the professional intuition required to know how and when to extend the aims of a consultation. Maintaining the relationship and ending on a positive note are important outcomes of each consultation.