title: Are patients bypassing paediatric cardiology outreach clinics?
abstract: Previous studies have identified that receiving specialist care close to home can positively influence patients' experience. Despite this, a review of cardiology outpatient appointments at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow demonstrated that a large number of families are bypassing their local children's cardiology centre to attend cardiac clinics at the specialist children's surgical centre. We used patient questionnaire, audit of local facilities, and examined the relationship between diagnosis and bypass numbers to better understand factors influencing this trend. Our results suggest that patient preference, short travelling distance to specialist children's cardiac centre, a more severe cardiac diagnosis, and inconsistent local facilities, expertise, and support are likely to influence a family's decision to bypass their local children's cardiology centre.
authors.affiliation: 1Level 1, Neonatology,Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow,Glasgow,Scotland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.affiliation: 2Cardiac, Critical Care, Theatre and Neonatal Services, ,Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow,Glasgow,Scotland.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.affiliation: 3Paediatric Cardiology,Ward 1E,Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow,Glasgow,Scotland.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLeod
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel
keywords: Scotland; care close to home; network of care; outpatient