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Do any GPs read the HSJ? I was chatting to one at my local practice. Socially, I don't pop in for an appointment for a gossip. He's about the same age as me, mid 40s. He said OOH used to be dreadful, one in two, no life. His wife would take the calls (she wasn't clinical) and he'd leave the house with bits and bobs in an old fishing box, drive goodness knows where, see someone he didn't know, often registered with another practice and there was no e.g. ECP support. There weren't any halcyon days when OOH was rosy and you saw your family doctor, although I can remember that as a child. Yes, the system is a mess, and I've taken seriously ill relatives to ED with a list of what medicines they're on and what they need, but the work life balance for GPs pre the latest contract sounded dreadful. And the issue re not seeing notes/ health records doesn't seem to've changed in 40 years.....