General practitioner

The field of general medicine provides basic care for all patients with physical and psychological health problems, in acute and long-term care as well as in important issues of prevention (screening) and rehabilitation.

General practitioner or family doctor

General practitioners specialise in giving advice as the first medical contact for all health problems.

After making the diagnosis, they refer patients to a specialist, for instance, an orthopaedic specialist for joint pain or a vascular surgeon for an elective vein operation. Many general practitioners have trained for the additional qualification of "Phlebologist", thus becoming specialists in venous disorders.