[Visit to the emergency department: primary or secondary character?]

In a prospective study, 961 patients who came to the Emergency Department were registered and their cases were analysed on the basis of criteria drawn up in consultation with a group of general practitioners. Of this number 74% had presented themselves on their own initiative; 40% had been suffering from the complaint for some time. 66% of the patients who had not been referred and 60% of the total number could have been treated by their GP, at less expense for the National Health Service. It is worth considering for GPs on duty to make use of the facilities provided by the Emergency Departments of hospitals. This would increase patients' understanding of the function and the accessibility of Emergency Departments, enable GPs to work more efficiently and be cost effective.