What is General practitioner?
A '''general practitioner''' (GP) (also called a '''family doctor''' or a '''primary care physician''') is a [[medical doctor]] who works outside of a [[hospital]]. They deal with all sorts of health problems. They often get to know families over a long time. This continuity is very important.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Sandvik|first1=Hogne|last2=Hetlevik|first2=Øystein|last3=Blinkenberg|first3=Jesper|last4=Hunskaar|first4=Steinar|date=2022-02-01|title=Continuity in general practice as predictor of mortality, acute hospitalisation, and use of out-of-hours care: a registry-based observational study in Norway|url=https://bjgp.org/content/72/715/e84|journal=British Journal of General Practice|language=en|volume=72|issue=715|pages=e84–e90|doi=10.3399/BJGP.2021.0340|issn=0960-1643|pmid=34607797|pmc=8510690 }}</ref> In many countries, they send people to see [[Medical specialty|specialists]]. Away from towns, they may have to deal with [[Emergency medicine|emergencies]] and [[Childbirth|deliver babies]]. They spend most of their time looking after illness in young children and old people.{{cn}} In many countries general practitioners run their own small business. They are very important in [[Rural area|rural]] medicine. == United Kingdom == The number of general practitioners increased from 15,000 in 1913 to 19,000 in 1938. In 1938, 17.6 million people were registered with a GP - about half of the [[population]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sick Note|last=Millward|first=Gareth|publisher=OUP|year=2022|isbn=9780192865748|location=Oxford|pages=32}}</ref> In December 2022, there were 36,622 permanent qualified GPs working in England - [[full-time equivalent]] was 27,375. 69% worked between 15 and 37.5 hours a week.<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Practice Workforce, 31 December 2022|url=https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/general-and-personal-medical-services/31-december-2022|access-date=2023-02-06|website=NDRS|language=en}}</ref> The [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom]] changed the