Each year approximately 3,200 volunteer patients attend the examinations of the Royal College of Physicians in England and Wales. A confidential postal questionnaire concerning patients' experiences and satisfaction was administered to those attending North Tees General Hospital in June 1992 with a 90% response rate. The majority of patients derive some enjoyment from the experience and do not mind being repeatedly examined, some even up to eight times per session; but they do feel neglected if examined only once per session. Twenty-two per cent of first time attenders would have liked to have had more information about the proceedings beforehand.