Book review: Primary care diagnostics

The book examines how doctors reach a diagnosis in primary care and explores how to ensure the reasoning behind diagnosis is sound and accurate. In this evidence-based age, it drew on research and, while it gave individual examples, it also looked at the commissioning of diagnostic services which affects larger groups of people.

First, I will consider the good points. I liked the fact that Dr Summerton was patient focused and because of this, he emphasised the importance of history taking and subsequent examination. I often find you are given a list of diagnostic criteria or signs and symptoms, and you then try and fit your patient into these. It was refreshing to look at the diagnostic process differently and it is reassuring to think that traditional skills are valued. I have minor illness training and so I do get involved with diagnosing patients and this book made me reflect on my ability in this role. It made me want to improve my history taking skills and consider the reasons that I recommend further testing.