Future provision of out of hours primary medical care: a survey with two general practitioner research networks.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain general practitioners' views about the future provision of out of hours primary medical care.


METHODS
Self completing postal questionnaire survey.


METHODS
Wessex and north east England.


METHODS
116 general practitioners in the Wessex Primary Care Research Network and 83 in the Northern Primary Care Research Network.


METHODS
Intention to reduce or opt out of on call; plans for changing out of hours arrangements; the three most important changes needed to out of hours care; willingness to try, and perceived strengths and limitations of, three alternative out of hours care models--primary care emergency centres, telephone triage services, and cooperatives.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 74% (Wessex research network 77% (89/116), northern research network 71% (59/83)). Eighty three per cent of respondents (123/148) were willing to try at least one service model, primary care emergency centres being the most popular option. Key considerations were the potential for a model to reduce time on call and workload, to maintain continuity of care, and to fit the practice context. Sixty one per cent (91/148) hoped to reduce time on call and 25% (37/148) hoped to opt out completely.


CONCLUSIONS
General practitioners were keen to try alternative arrangements for out of hours care delivery, despite the lack of formal trials. The increased flexibility in funding brought about by the recent agreement between the General Medical Services Committee and the Department of Health is likely to lead to a proliferation of different schemes. Careful monitoring will be necessary, and formal trials of new service models are needed urgently.
Lattimer
V
V
University of Southampton Wessex Institute of Public Health Medicine, Southampton General Hospital.
Smith
H
H
Hungin
P
P
Glasper
A
A
George
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D019037:Urban Health Services