Valuing presence in clinical practice

Agreement: I AgreeBody:

Dear Editor

The personal account of the dehumanisation of healthcare highlights the need to value presence in the doctor-patient relationship. Face-to-face presence is crucial to restoring humane medicine. The necessary distancing of doctors from patients during COVID-19, in order to control the spread of the virus, has persisted in increasingly remote technology-driven consultations.

Presence is much more than physical proximity, it includes emotional, attentive engagement. Presence fosters empathy, trust and improves patient health outcomes. If doctors are to be present in this way they need resourcing, longer consultations and routine emotional support for themselves.

Presence facilitates personalised care and is closely linked with continuity of care, which reduces mortality, hospital admissions and increases patient satisfaction. General practitioners and patients both prefer face-to face consultations, patient satisfaction is associated with seeing a doctor who knows them. Government policymakers favour digital health and rapid access, they need also to put personalised continuing primary care at the heart of future health service planning.

No competing Interests: YesThe following competing Interests: Electronic Publication Date: Friday, September 18, 2026 - 20:18AI use: No, I have not used AIHighwire Comment Subject:

Gentleness matters in healthcare

Workflow State: ReleasedFull Title:

Valuing presence in clinical practice

Highwire Comment Response to:

Gentleness matters in healthcare

Check this box if you would like your letter to appear anonymously:: Last Name: JeffreyFirst name and middle initial: DavidEmail:

dijeffrey@btinternet.com

Address: West Malvern Occupation: Retired palliative care consultantAffiliation: RetiredBMJ: Additional Article Info: Rapid response