The Role of the General Practitioner in Hospital Obstetrics

Abstract

This chapter will consider the role of the general practitioner (GP) in the hospital labour ward. The GP obstetrician may work either in a community hospital-based maternity unit which may be isolated and many miles from assistance or in a unit integrated within a district hospital with specialist help readily available at all times. There is evidence (figure 17.1) to show that, as with home confinements, booking into isolated GP units has become less popular over the last decade, whereas delivery in GP integrated units appears to be increasing (MacFarlane, 1979). Applying advances in obstetric management must be difficult for the GP in isolation and it may be that, during the next decade, delivery in isolated units will become as uncommon as home confinement is now. My contribution will, therefore, be directed to the role of the GP obstetrician working in close association with specialist colleagues in GP maternity units in, or very closely associated with, consultant departments. I have had the good fortune to work in this type of unit for some years (Bull, 1980) and I believe that if GP obstetrics is to have a future, it will be in this favourable situation, where safety and continuity of care for the patient can be combined with a high degree of job satisfaction and peace of mind for her attendants.