RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A small earthquake? JF Clinical Medicine JO Clin Med FD Royal College of Physicians SP 212 OP 216 DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.2-3-212 VO 2 IS 3 A1 Graeme Catto YR 2002 UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/2/3/212.abstract AB In recent years, concerns about health and healthcare have been expressed by the public, the profession, patients and politicians. These are neither new nor confined to the UK. Doctors were not always held in high public esteem; that had been earned over the last 150 years through scientific discoveries such as anaesthesia which revolutionised patient care. The turbulence of the last few years has a number of causes, including increasing patient expectations. Perhaps inevitably it has again called into question the relationship between government, the public and the profession. The resulting debate has been more widespread and better informed than previous episodes of dissent, perhaps indicating a greater willingness on the part of all three parties to assess their relationship anew. Any such assessment would no doubt have to accept the current workforce difficulties experienced by many doctors and other healthcare professionals practising in unsatisfactory circumstances.