Among patients consulting general practitioners in northern Norway, 57% had a stable relationship with one doctor, according to answers to a questionnaire. Rather than having a free choice between several doctors, 85% preferred to have a personal doctor. About half the patients wanted the same doctor for the whole family. Even if they had to wait longer for the consultation, 63% would prefer to meet their own doctor. A personal doctor was much less common in northern Norway than in the rest of the country, which could be put down to lower stability in the practices.