ABSTRACT
The pace of a normal working day in general practice can resemble anything from a gentle stroll to a roller-coaster ride - depending on circumstances such as time of year, practice area and absent partners. Most of us learn to cope with these sudden changes in work intensity during our hospital training. However, general practice presents an additional challenge, as a larger number of decisions - whether trivial or life-saving - occasionally have to be made quickly and often under time pressure. Sometimes a certain amount of skill is required to deal with these demands and interruptions effectively. Telephone calls, requests from the recep tionist, busy surgeries and administrative paperwork all force you to manage your time in the best possible way. Some very basic time-saving techniques can be invaluable, and will reduce the likelihood that you will miss your lunch break or an engagement in the evening, but probably the greatest benefit of good time management is to have more quality time both with your patient and for yourself.
