title: Referrals to A&E.
abstract: There were 900 encounters at which patients were referred to A&E over the 5 year period. There was no difference between male and female referral rates (0.2 per 100 encounters). Children aged < 15 years were referred at the higher rate of 0.3 per 100 encounters; the lowest rate was among patients aged 65-74 years (0.1 per 100). Patients of non-English speaking backgrounds were seen at average rates at these encounters, but Commonwealth concession card holders were seen significantly more often (48.2 per 100 A&E referred encounters compared with an average of 41.9). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients were over represented at 3.3 per 100 compared with the BEACH average of 1.1. Patients new to the practice were seen at A&E encounters at twice the average rate (20.5 per 100 compared with 9.0 in total BEACH).
authors.affiliation: Australian GP Statistics & Classification Centre, University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahridin
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Britt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*