Past studies have demonstrated that the majority of health care visits are made to general practitioners, and that socio-economically disadvantaged individuals are significantly more likely to use such services. Relatively little is known, however, about the quality of general practice care...

Socio-economically disadvantaged individuals experience significantly greater mortality and morbidity relative to advantaged individuals. General practitioners have been suggested to occupy a position which has the capacity to ameliorate the health consequences of socio-economic disadvantage....