The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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The views of general practitioners on their increasing role in caring for people with learning disability in the community are not known. ⋯ General practitioners largely accepted their role as primary health care providers for people with learning disability. In contrast, their role as providers of health promotion for this patient group was not generally accepted. Further research into the appropriateness and opportunity costs of health screening for people with learning disability is needed.
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There has been a lack of discussion and consensus as to what the role of the general practitioner should be in the care of patients with chronic diseases. Should general practitioners concentrate on the disease or should their remit include the resultant disability and handicap? General practitioners have tended to concentrate on the disease, but this may be inappropriate. ⋯ Greater knowledge among doctors of the functional and social aspects of disease would therefore improve the quality of care for patients, and should be assessed through clinical audit. Ways are described in which general practitioners, working together with their patients with chronic diseases and with other health professionals, can improve aspects of the care of these patients.