Since the 1980s, when the medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten was flying around in a pink helicopter enriched by his empire of GP clinics, the debate on the effects of corporates in general practice have lingered.

Late last year, we surveyed 512 doctors on their views today.

What are their attractions; do they ensure clinical independence; is the money still attractive; do they strip away the ever-increasing bureaucratic headaches to allow doctors to focus on medicine and their patients?

Here is what they said…