title: Referrals to A&E--changes over 5 years.
abstract: In July 2008, using 2003 to 2007 data from BEACH (Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health), we published an article in this journal about patients attending general practice who were referred to hospital accident and emergency departments (A&E).(1) The precise referral rate at that time was 1.85 per 1000 encounters (95% CI: 1.70-1.99). A new analysis using recent data shows that in 2008 to 2011 the general practice referral rate to A&E was significantly higher: 2.70 per 1000 encounters (95% CI: 2.48-2.92).
authors: Family Medicine Research Centre, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Janice
authors: J
authors: Charles
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Valenti
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Britt
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration