Inner-city hospital closures in Dublin: implications for general practice.
BACKGROUND
The Meath, Adelaide and National Children's Hospitals provided more than 300,000 ambulatory care episodes in 1996, half to residents of the adjacent inner-city postal districts. With the closure of the group in 1998, alternative care arrangements must now be provided.


OBJECTIVE
This paper examines the socio-economic and primary care characteristics of the communities most affected.


METHODS
Data on the 13 District Electoral Divisions surrounding the hospitals are drawn from a range of published sources.


RESULTS
The populations affected include 52% in social classes 5 to 7, have an average Standardised Mortality Ratio of 122, have high levels of GMS eligibility and include special care issues such as drug dependency. A total of 38 GPs cover the area. Other markers of deprivation are summarised.


CONCLUSIONS
The areas most affected by the closures have existing high levels of deprivation and social and medical need. Initiatives to respond to the closures must address these needs.
Bury
G
G
Department of General Practice, University College Dublin, Coombe Healthcare Centre.
Breen
N
N
D003153:Community Health Services; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005194:Family Practice; D006271:Health Facility Closure; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data