A study of six general practitioner hospitals in Tunbridge Wells Health District

At the reorganization of the NHS in 1974 Tunbridge Wells Health District inherited an unusual distribution of beds: more than 25% of beds in general medicine, geriatrics and surgical specialties were in general practitioner hospitals. This article describes a study that attempted to obtain information about the work being done in the GP hospitals, assess their potential and plan their future. The ways in which the DMT is following up the study are outlined. A subsidiary study on transfer from general hospital to GP hospitals is also described.