Vernon Coleman

Meet the bloated, useless General Medical Council

It used to be little more than a clerk and a disciplinary committee; now it's a nest of power-hungry bureaucrats

2nd February 1939: German-born actress Lilli Palmer (1914 - 1986) has her temperature and her pulse taken by a doctor in a scene from Ian Hay's comedy 'Little Ladyship' at the Strand, London. (Photo by Sasha/Getty Images) 
issue 18 October 2014

There was a time, not long ago, when British GPs provided the best home doctor service in the world. Patients could telephone their doctor 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including Christmas), ask for a home visit and get one. Patients prepared to visit the surgery could expect to see a doctor the day they called.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY A MONTH FREE
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Try a month of Britain’s best writing, absolutely free.

Comments

Join the debate, free for a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.

Already a subscriber? Log in