Doctors And Patients | Holding Page

DOCTORS & PATIENTS (GPTV)

Black & White

The waiting room...

Welcome to the waiting room. In the 1970s, innovative programmes were developed as video technology became available in institutional settings. The rise of video technology led to pioneering programmes that used it in new, efficient ways. The video above was among the first created in the 1970s. These programmes were designed to provide valuable insights and education, marking a pivotal moment in how institutions used visual media.

Our programmes provide an immersive experience, offering valuable insights into the current challenges and complexities patients face when seeking or attending medical appointments today. They examine interactions between patients and doctors, highlighting obstacles patients often face when scheduling appointments, such as limited availability or difficulty securing a spot. They also highlight the substantial demands and pressures doctors face in delivering services, which often exceed what is necessary. The programmes let viewers observe and analyse the dynamics between patients and doctors, showing how miscommunication can strain doctor-patient relationships.

Things haven't changed much since then.

In the late 1960s, 40% of medical consultations were conducted through house calls or home visits by doctors. However, this number had decreased to only 1% by the 1980s. As a result, doctors could see more patients in their surgeries, and the overall population had also increased. On the other hand, in the NHS, by 1984, most doctors would have worked from practices in their own homes and were mainly made up of men.

By 1990, Health Secretary Ken Clarke had implemented a new contract to make healthcare service terms more specific and create a system that rewarded proactive health maintenance. This contract brought significant changes, mandating that GPs conduct health checks for all new patients, individuals over 75, and patients who had not seen a GP in the past three years.

Other notable contract changes, for example, in 2004, became more prescriptive and removed the need to provide 24-hour cover. These changes have affected the quality of the doctor-patient relationship in General Practice. Contract negotiations continue to be divisive.

Cardinal Broadcast proudly presents the clips and programmes you are about to watch. The Audio Visual Centre at the University of London carefully recorded them in 1976. The black-and-white footage captures the essence and atmosphere of that time.