GP s ' skills
From Dr J. P. T. Linklater
Sir: I am indeed glad that Mr R. K. Brian has at last agreed with my postulates (Letters, August 25), I take exception, however, to his accusation that the general practitioner today is making aggressive demands about jobs and pay. There is nothing aggressive about stating that one does not wish to be mts-employed, and pay was not in issue on that occasion.
I much regret the "weeks of cogitation" before reply, but like most general practitioners, my working day tends to end around 10 p.m, and I assure Mr Brian that I was simply suffering from lack of time. The handbook which I quoted is, of course, our official handbook and the evidence contained therein that we are in fact trained to handle physical, social and psychiatric problems, must be taken as final.
Mr Brian will forgive me if I do not rise to the remaining red herrings which he is trailing, and may I say in conclusion that there cannot be many general practitioners today who consider themselves omniscient healers, but most of us nevertheless do equip ourselves to treat a wide range of problems. 1 feel perfectly sure that Mr Brian is arguing in general terms from some specific experience. I hereby challenge him, that if he would care to leave Upper Berkeley Street for a day's visit to our marshes he would find himself obliged to eat both lunch and his own words for afters.
J. P. T. Linklater Kingsland, Fingringhoe, Essex
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