This study was commissioned by the King's Fund London Project Executive Committee in December 1983 to examine the problems of telephoning doctors in London as experienced by patients and other service providers. The authors examine the availability of general practitioners during the day and out-of-hours, the variety of answering services and message-handling devices they employ, and how the telephone is used in practice management. They also ask whose responsibility it is to ensure that new telecommunications technology is introduced into general practice for the benefit of patients seeking access to primary care. The paper includes widespread recommendations.