The authors are grateful for all the help and support given to this work by the staff at Greenmount Medical Centre, in particular Dr John Hampson, and the financial assistance given by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority.This paper reports the initial findings from a study of the application of process analysis into a general practice. It discusses the issues surrounding the relationships between clinical and managerial tasks. A new model of primary care is proposed which takes into account management issues and separates out non-patient contact activities. Evidence is presented and conclusions are drawn about front/back office activities, general practice as a small business, patient care and suggestions are made for future work.