ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the work of listening in the individual general practitioner (GP) — patient interaction. It is concerned with doctors’ perceptions of the ongoing nature of listening with their patients. The chapter considers some positive aspects and some difficulties of such relationships. It outlines GP-patient relationships in which people attend for support from the doctor without an overt biomedical need. The long-term GP—patient relationship is well recognised and important for the majority of these doctors. It is seen as central to the ethos of family medicine and an invaluable asset in managing patients. Some long-term relationships present specific challenges, such as limiting the number of investigations performed on a demanding patient. The GP will sometimes find certain people unpleasant, unreasonable, stressful, time-wasting or demanding. Cumulative listening and developing relationships over time are seen as important by these GPs. They feel closer to some patients than to others and their degree of involvement varies over time.
