General practitioners and hospitals. Continuity of care

The study aimed to improve continuity of care for patients undergoing major gynaecological surgery, by increasing their general practitioners' contact with the hospital and providing a comprehensive discharge summary.

Prospective randomised study of 200 patients admitted to a gynaecological oncology ward, and their GPs. Visits and telephone calls by GPs to hospital during their patients' admission were measured, with and without invitation and offer of payment for contact. A discharge summary was distributed. Postdischarge questionnaires surveyed patient satisfaction with care, confidence in future management by the GPs, and GP confidence in continuing patient care.

Significant increases in contact rates by the GPs followed invitation. The discharge summary was not effectively distributed. No significant differences in patient satisfaction and confidence in future management by their GPs were found. General practitioners valued hospital contact most in meeting their patients' needs for information.

Personal invitation increases GP contact with hospitals. While no statistically significant improvements in patient satisfaction or GP confidence were shown, the data suggested that GPs value contact to meet patient information needs.