I am writing in response to LJF's Shooting from the Lip opinion 'GPs' bank balances looking too healthy'.

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LJF's inflammatory journalistic style is good journalism in that it challenges her readers' beliefs by being totally opinionated and 'shot from the lip'.

It is, however, expressed without much thought.

GPs actually do more than act as (government-elected) administrators - they have to sift through the patients presenting symptoms and clinincal signs, come to a diagnosis and decide whether or not they need to be referred to a hospital consultant (whose time is often pressed due to NHS work combined with a thriving private practice!).

GPs' knowledge and expertise in assessing the patient's correct treatment, drug interactions and psychological well-being is a result of broad and continuous training.

GPs decided to specialise in general practice because they believe in community health and want to be able to build relationships with their patients. The 10 minutes allocated to each patient is not the decision of the GP, but the orders from the government.

The GPs' bountiful paperwork and targets are what interfere with their chosen vocation (that is to be at the forefront of maintaining their patients' health). The government's interference in the NHS and education, pushing them to targets which are only to be manipulated and spun to their advantage are what you should be 'shooting from the lip' about.

That a GP's average wage is £60,000 is more than deserved when you compare their salaries to those of other professionals. I paid a plumber £80 to tell me my boiler was not working (clearly evident) and then had to pay him another £80 to replace a switch (not including the cost of the switch!).

Think too about the fees of mechanics, lawyers, accountants and MPs who, quite frankly, could not potentially save my life by spotting disease and knowing how to treat it or where to refer me to.

The proportion of public tax that goes to the payment of GPs (and other NHS staff) is minimal and people seem quite willing to pay exorbitant fees to privatately run services.

Perhaps people appreciate (oddly) what they pay for rather than what they essentially receive for free! When the government finally gets its way and privatises the NHS, and we are having to pay upfront to see our health professionals - perhaps then we will appreciate the work of the often undervalued and overworked GP!

By K Raju (spouse of a hardworking GP), Sidcup

GPs just don't care anymore. Very rarely do I even get a hello or a courteous smile, let alone an appointment within a week!

The reception staff are wonderful but I am often left feeling unheard, rushed and not cared for by my GP.

Ok, I understand everyone has bad days at work and yes they rush and squash appointment after appointment, but if a police officer was as care-free and rude as some GPs I'm sure something would be publicly done or said.

I'm not questioning if they get overpaid for the amount of studying they have to do in the beginning, I think it's deserved. But where is the good old 'television (Heartbeat)' local, villiage GP who cares?

They don't know your face, your name and nine times out of 10 even your illness!

By Louisa Montagu, Bexleyheath

What do you think? Do we get value for money from our GPs or are they overpaid? What are your experiences of seeing your GP? Click here to have your say