ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights that safety-netting is a very important phase of most consultations and can help to empower patients as well as protect doctors, nurses and other health professionals. The challenge of primary care, is that of 20 patients the clinician sees in a morning surgery, 19 will have something trivial wrong with them. The 20th patient will have something really wrong with them and the dilemma is working out which one is that patient. Good endings help patients to feel better as they leave the room. Maintaining rapport with the patient; being sure that the clinician has dealt with the patient's problems appropriately; being alert to the possibility of a last-minute disclosure; not rushing the patient at the end; and ending with a warm smile and a few words such as 'Take care now', 'Look after yourself ', 'Thank you for coming to see me' are some ways that help clinicians ensure a good ending.
