Catherine Bell , , general practitioner Moss Valley Medical Practice, The Valleys Medical Partnership, Eckington, Sheffield, UK Correspondence to C Bell catherine.gray{at}doctors.org.uk Accepted 17 November 2017

As a general practitioner, I have often wondered why some patients immediately attempt to consult their GP about minor ailments of short duration. As the mother of a toddler and frequent witness to the children’s television series Peppa Pig, I might have discovered the answer.

Peppa Pig centres around a young pig, Peppa, her family (brother George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig), and animal friends and members of the community.

Dr Brown Bear, a single handed GP with whom the Pig family is registered, appears to provide his patients with an excellent service—prompt and direct telephone access, continuity of care, extended hours, and a low threshold for home visits. But could this depiction of general practice be contributing to unrealistic expectations of primary care? In this article, I present three case studies and consider the potential impact Dr Brown Bear’s actions could have on patient behaviour.