A cross-sectional study was undertaken to elicit patient and learner opinions about bedside teaching (BST). Only 48% of learners reported that they had been given enough BST during their undergraduate training, while 100% thought BST to be the most effective way of learning clinical skills. Seventy seven per cent of patients enjoyed BST and 83% said that it did not make them anxious. The preferred site for case presentations was the conference room. Further quantitative studies are needed to investigate perceived impediments to BST from the teachers' point of view.