ABSTRACT
General practice today continues to be in a state of flux. Perhaps the only real certainty about the future is that there will continue to be change. But whatever organisational changes lie ahead, it is very likely that the consultation between health professional and patient will remain the cornerstone of primary care. Good consultation skills undoubtedly help patients to feel better during the process of consultation, but they are just as rewarding for the health professional as the patient. Every consultation provides opportunities for learning and practising skills, because each patient that we see is different from every other patient. Continued learning and development of consultation skills are just as important as keeping up to date with guidelines, new drugs, ‘best practice’, etc. and will help you to enrich your consultations as well as help you to continue to enjoy general practice and avoid burnout or disillusionment.
