Variations in clinical decisions: a study of orthopaedic patients

Three groups of patients were clinically reviewed within a new orthopaedics department: patients who were on an inpatient waiting list for surgery; new referrals from general practitioners; and patients who had been referred earlier and were awaiting an appointment for outpatient consultation. Approximately two-fifths of patients who were already on the inpatient waiting list, and who had confirmed their wish to remain on it, were considered on clinical review not to require inpatient treatment. A third of patients attending for first outpatient consultations were immediately returned to the continuing care of their general practitioner and this proportion was higher (47%) amongst patients who were waiting for outpatient appointments and who had not been referred to a named hospital consultant. These findings draw attention to the possible inappropriate use of specialist hospital facilities because of clinical decisions taken by some general practitioners and also to variations in the threshold for surgical intervention used by hospital consultants. It is important that the medical profession develops a consensus approach to the clinical management of patients with common conditions. It is also important that clinical review of patients on inpatient waiting lists, especially those who have been waiting a long time, becomes a routine part of waiting list management. Under the new British health care system, it is likely that purchasers of health care will seek to ensure that these issues are being dealt with by hospitals with which they are considering placing contracts.