title: Primary ophthalmic care: why did patients choose to come to the accident and emergency department?
abstract: A survey was carried out to find out why patients chose to come to an eye accident and emergency department. The commonest reason given by the patients was the need for urgent medical attention. Up to a third of patients might be abusing the emergency service offered by the department and the implications of this are discussed.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brazier
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care