ROY Davies (Letters, October 9) seems to refer back to some halcyon days of general practice.

As GPs, we are still responsible for providing medical care 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

However, times change and due to the nature of demand we have had to change. In the past I have worked, as Mr Davies remembers, as recently as 15 years ago, and you knew if you got a call in the middle of the night it was an emergency and it wasn't very often. Not so now.

Here are some examples of "emergency calls" that I have had to deal with between midnight and 4am:

"Is it routine to have a Hepatitis B vaccine when you register with a doctor?"

"Can I join your list?"

Caller: "I can't get to sleep, so I want you to visit to give me a sleeping pill." My reply: "Have you not seen your own doctor?"

Caller: "I had an appointment yesterday afternoon but I took a friend's sleeping tablet and missed it."

"Could you tell me when my appointment with the chiropodist is? And, if not, could you call me back at 9am to make sure I am awake?"

The trivialisation of what is an emergency or urgent, combined with the impact on our family and social lives and lack of reward, has led to the current situation.

If we did our own On-Call we would only be able to claim a fee for visits made between the hours of 10pm and 8am, and that includes weekends. At least, if we work for the On-Call services we get some financial return.

Most of the GPs I know are fed up with being taken for granted and having to put up with abuse when On-Call.

Many would happily drop the 24 hour commitment if allowed. We know its the minority who abuse the system, but the abuse seems to be increasing.

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

(name and address received)