The role of the general practitioner in an obstetrics teaching hospital

A scheme is presented for the appointment of general practitioners to the staff of a university teaching hospital. The doctors have bed rights for the management of their private and intermediate patients. They are appointed to the teaching and service units of the hospital and cooperate with a Department of Community Medicine, the full-time Director of which is also a general practitioner with senior staff status. The hospital appointment has the title Affiliated Medical Officer and is made subject to written acceptance of special conditions which include practice restriction in the management of complicated cases. The scheme has operated satisfactorily for two years.