title: Out-of-hours calls in a Leicestershire practice.
abstract: In one year, 920 "out-of-hours" calls were received by a partnership of three general practitioners working from a health centre in semi-rural Leicestershire. The partners on duty saw 588 patients. Out of 898 patients on whom information was available only 75 (8-5%) were referred to hospital, mainly as casualties. The results are compared with a study of deputising services, and it is concluded that a partnership covering its own out-of-hours calls can provide a more personal service and appears to make fewer demands on NHS resources.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009551:Night Care; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors