title: Health care utilization in the British National Health Service.
abstract: Four national surveys of primary care services in England and Wales demonstrate that utilization rates have not continued to increase significantly since the initiation of the National Health Service in 1948, despite an initial surge in demands for medical services. The author examines morbidity surveys, consultation patterns, and referrals to secondary care and examines the ethical dilemma of basing services on costs.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of General Practitioners, Birmingham, England.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D003798:Dental Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006302:Health Services Research; D006306:Health Surveys; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009017:Morbidity; D009874:Operations Research; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology