A family physician is an more dependable & trustworthy person, whereas hospitals cater to emergencies which cannot be handled in routine GP. At times the pateints are reffered for superspeciality opinion by the hospitals and the patients are first to contact the family physician as he is the more dependable one for correct advice. There are pros and cons too...like most of the times the patients wish to be treated in clinic itself rather going to hospitals. The patients insist to give medicines more in form of injectables at times when not so required.
The general practitioner many a times are not fully equipped to diagnose for ex. lack of ECG, Lab analysers, etc. Ethically the patient is to be thoroughly investigated and treated, but the GP has to manage the pateint at times with his past experience and clinical knowledge. There was a glorious past of Family Physician being treated as…