General practice has long been viewed as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UK health service, with the image of a friendly Dr Finlay or an avuncular Dr Cameron still coming to mind with the phrase ‘family doctor’. But much has changed in the 60 plus years since general practice in the UK was created and the job of the GP is now very different. Here Neena Modi, Imperial College London, consider whether general practice has evolved sufficiently to meet the needs of infants, children, and young people.