Student-patient contacts on the wards were monitored by having students keep daily logs of patient contacts during a 5-week period of routine clinical attachments in a teaching hospital. After being discharged patients were followed up by postal questionnaire. Results indicated that on average students spend substantially less time with patients than is allowed for in the curriculum. Variability in contact time was high both within and between attachments to different wards. Patient satisfaction with student contact was high. The duration of student-patient contact was not significantly related to patient satisfaction. There was a significant relationship between patient satisfaction and the number of different topics patients recalled discussing with students.