A fictionalised account of the lives and experiences of home-visiting GPs from around the globe has just been published by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

Secrets from the Black Bag is presented as a series of interconnecting chapters in 11 voices. The stories give an insight into the lives of these GPs as they speak of their delights, their fears, their challenges and successes.

The author, Susan Woldenberg Butler, developed the stories following a number of interviews with home-visiting general practitioners from around the world.

Dr Alec Logan, Deputy Editor of the British Journal of General Practice said:

"These stories demonstrate the varied nature of general practice in a highly readable format. As doctors adapt to the changing face of general practice in the 21st century it is essential that we do not lose sight of the importance of the doctor-patient relationship."

Secrets from the Black Bag by Susan Woldenberg Butler is available from the Royal College of General Practitioners, priced �15.00. rcgp/acatalog

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and to act as the "voice" of GPs on issues concerned with education; training; research; and clinical standards. Founded in 1952, the RCGP has over 23,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline.

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