Do patients consult the doctor less often than they used to?

Analysis of nationally representative surveys of adults and older teenagers has identified a small but steady decrease in consultation rates following the transient increase which occurred after the introduction of the National Health Service. Visiting rates decreased substantially after 1950 but no trend has been identified in attendance rates. However, between 1950 and 1978 visits have represented a decreasing proportion, and attendances an increasing proportion, of all consultations.