Protocols used by UK general practitioners, what is expected of them and what solutions are provided

A postal survey on attitudes to the use of clinical protocols by Family Health Service Authorities and general practitioners in the United Kingdom showed that some FHSAs had a relatively optimistic view of the implementation of protocols by GPs. Forty-two percent of the 61 FHSAs who responded stated that they had no policy for helping primary care introduce protocols in the key areas of the management or referral of asthma, diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease. The general practitioners identified these areas but there was a feeling of resentment by some of the respondents as they felt the electronic protocols were not in general user friendly. It was felt that the main General practitioner computer suppliers are capable of meeting the protocol needs of an increasingly computerised primary health care service for the future. The changes to the UK primary health scene are discussed in relation to protocol implementation by general practitioners.