Use and misuse of an accident and emergency department in the East End of London.
A study was made of all 587 new patients attending an accident and emergency department in the East End of London during one week. Two hundred and twenty-six (39%) cases were not accidents or emergencies; of these, 67% were self-referrals who had not previously seen their general practitioner (GP) and 21% were self-referrals who had previously seen their GP. The four main reasons that these self-referred patients had for attending were that they thought their condition needed immediate attention; they were insufficiently organized to see their GP; they were not registered with a GP; or they wanted a second opinion. Twenty-eight (12%) of the cases which were not accidents or emergencies were referred by a GP. Sixty-nine (12%) of all cases were not registered with a GP. The frequency of cases who were not accidents or emergencies was significantly higher in those not registered than in those registered (0.01 greater than P greater than 0.001). Nineteen (3%) patients were living rough or in hostels. Little abuse of the ambulance service was found.
D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation