With reference to my query re the above posted in August, many thanks to those who responded. A summary is provided below:
Although I haven't managed to find out whether single-handed gp practices have higher consultation rates than multiple gp practices, I was given a few useful leads through the mail lists which have enabled me to gather some information together which indirectly informs me.
I raised this question in relation to a single-handed gp practice in an area of deprivation according to 1991 census information.
The literature I have found suggests that areas of deprivation are likely to generate a high workload for GPs given the relationship between deprivation and health, see for example:
Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England 1988-1998
Bulletin 1999/13, ONS ISBN: 1 84182 033 4 (found on the web, statistics tables included)
(I got this through the following information that was sent to me:
The Morbidity Statistics from General Practice 4th National Study (MSGP4 )
is the best source of GP consultation rates I know. You would probably need
the CD version rather than the book, so you can do your own analysis to
answer your question. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) are the owners)
Socioeconomic determinants of rates of consultaion in general practice based on fourth national morbidity survey of general practitioners BMJ 1996;312;10008-1012
Low education, high GP consulation rates: the effect of psychosocial factors J Psychosomatic Research 1998 44(5) 587-97
Deprivation and gneral practitioner workload
BMJ (1992) 29;304(6826): 529-34
Consultation rates and incidence of intercurrent morbidity among patients with chronic disease in general practice
Br J of General Practice (1994) 44(383): 259-62
Someone to talk to? The role of loneliness as a factor in the frequency of GP consultations
Br J of General PRactice (1999) 49(442) 363-7
Inequality in health and health service use for mothers of young children in south west England...
J of Epidemiology and Community health (1997) 51(1) 74-9
In addition I found the following websites of use or interest:
Obviously the BMJ was a great source, alongwith Medline.
http:\\www.findarticles.com
(though I found trying to print articles from here very difficult the
day I was searching this site - kept making my screen freeze, and
saving to print later didn't help!)
http:\\www.MGMA.com.
- though only brought up American articles connected with my search
the following excerpt from the UK NHS Executive was kindly sent to me,:
Use of Services - UK NHS
Nine out of ten people who use the NHS are seen in the community - usually
through their GP. In 1993 there were 26,000 GPs in England , most working in
group practices and supported by a healthcare team of practice nurses and
other support staff. Typically a GP has a *list* of 1,900 patients, though
in areas of poverty lists are often much larger.
Some 280 major district hospitals in England provide a range of services
from accident and emergency to maternity to care of elderly people.
Hospitals range in size from large institutions to smaller community
hospitals. Bed numbers are falling dramatically as a result of technological
and practice changes driven by cost containment measures and efforts to
improve outcomes.
Between 1982 and 1992 for example , the number of beds available for all
clinical specialisms fell from 348,000 to 231,000 while the number of
patients treated rose by more than a third. Central to changes in practice
is the move towards multidisciplinary teams, and a wider understanding of
the concept of clinical authority. All hospital staff - doctors nurses and
other support staff now work increasingly together to provide a continuum of
care.
Leeds is a typical metropolitan area with a population of 724,000. NHS
services provided to this community are: 406 GPs in 133 practices, 29 of
whom train new GPs, 294 dentists in 158 surgeries,153 pharmacies,171
opticians, 6 general hospitals employing 841 medical and dental staff, 3791
nurses and 691 other medical professionals, 4 psychiatric hospitals and over
60 community health centres and clinics.
thanks again
Ms Sophia Bird
Health Promotion Officer (Research & Development)
Powys & Ceredigion Health Promotion Unit
Mansion House,
Bronllys, Brecon,
Powys, LD3 0LS
tel: 01874-711661 X4678
fax: 01874-711618
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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