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Related Experiment Videos

Consultants' workload in outpatient clinics

D Armstrong1, M Nicoll

  • 1Department of General Practice, United Medical School of Guy's Hospital.

BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.)
|March 4, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Variations in general practitioner referral rates impacted hospital resources. Despite rising outpatient numbers, consultant capacity decreased, yet more consultants are proposed for outreach clinics.

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Area of Science:

  • Healthcare Management
  • Public Health Policy

Background:

  • Variability in general practitioner referral rates raised concerns regarding hospital resource allocation during the 1980s.
  • The National Health Service (NHS) has experienced slow growth in overall outpatient referrals since its inception.
  • A notable decline in new outpatients seen per hospital consultant has been observed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of general practitioner referral rate variability on hospital resources.
  • To examine trends in outpatient referrals and consultant capacity within the NHS.
  • To evaluate proposed solutions for addressing the demand for outreach clinics in general practice.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of historical data on general practitioner referral rates.
  • Examination of trends in National Health Service (NHS) outpatient attendance.
  • Review of consultant capacity and its relation to service demand.

Main Results:

  • Referral rate variability was a significant concern for hospital resource management.
  • Overall outpatient numbers increased slowly, while consultant workload per patient decreased.
  • Despite declining individual consultant capacity, increasing consultant numbers is suggested for outreach services.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights a disconnect between perceived demand and actual consultant capacity.
  • The proposed solution of increasing consultant numbers warrants further investigation in light of declining individual capacity.
  • Healthcare resource management requires a nuanced understanding of referral patterns and consultant utilization.

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