How things have changed.

When I came to NZ in 1976 family doctor job satisfaction was extremely high - well above 70% from memory. We were a happy bunch.

NZ family doctors are now 80% funded by the tax payer - some of us are maybe holding out on the latest inducements. You could say we are government employees. If we aren't we soon will be. If you suggested to a doc that he or she is a lackey of the state, you might want to be sure you have an escape root. We like to think we are independent operators and thinkers. We used to be but less and less is this so. Government payments started off as patient benefits. A while back they were changed to doctor payments. Now they are coming with hooks attached. Financially family doctors are puppets or soon will be - state agents.

Take a look at this blog if you want some idea of what may well be coming our way.

Doctors were independent operators and appraisers of information. They could, as long as they acted in good faith, act from their own conclusions. They left medical school and most worked under the wing of an older doctor. They didn't have to belong to any organisations. Now there is one organisation that controls general practice. It's much more difficult for your doctor to be an independent thinker. If his peer don't like him......... Group think is more prevalent these days.

In the consulting room with you and your doctor there are many others who may later pass judgement on what is taking place. Even though they weren't actually there these people are willing to state a year or two later what must or must not have happened.

Witnesses at actual real events are notoriously inaccurate at remembering the details of what happened however these clever people in the consulting room with you and your doctor, well metaphorically speaking, think they can know what happened when they weren't even there. They conclude, for example, if it's in the notes it was done. If it isn't, it wasn't!! Some people live in la la land. Maybe too many la la land dwellers are in charge!