Dr Dawn Harper on how the NHS has changed over the years

Having been a GP for 13 years Dr Dawn Harper has noticed changes in general practice over the past decade.

She says that when she started out as a GP, patients would usually come in with a complaint but that today the majority of her patients come in for preventative treatment such as a health check to get their blood pressure or cholesterol checked.

Dr Harper also says that patients today are more informed than ever with the use of the internet and the media in order to obtain healthcare information.

She says: "We live today in a very media savvy society and whether we like it or not a lot of the British public rely on the media to obtain their healthcare information."

"Whatever you have got you are not on your own. Your doctor isn't going to laugh at you and whatever you have got we can do something about it."

Dr Harper also stresses the importance of GPs to keeping up to date with the latest medical developments.

"If you go and see a Doctor or a car mechanic or a vet you want to know that they are giving you a 21st century service."

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[nhslocal]

@LEK2129 Smear tests aren’t offered to under 25s because many changes in the cervix of a younger woman are normal. Changes a smear test picks up are often reversible and do not lead to cancer. Smears tests at younger ages could therefore lead to unnecessary treatment and side effects. The aim is to find a balance which minimises anxiety whilst ensuring changes which could progress into cancer are not missed.

[LEK2129]

It's a disgrace that under 25's are banned from smear tests when we have to pay taxes to fund them for other people but aren't allowed them ourselves.