Moving to a health centre—the effect on workload and patients

Abstract

A detailed study of the workload of an urban practice was made during a six-month period before and after moving into a health centre to see if the pattern changed after the move. It was found that the services provided enabled a much greater proportion of routine work to be done by the practice nurse so that the doctor could spend more time with the patients seen by him.

A survey of the opinion of patients showed that the great majority was pleased with the services offered in the new premises and did not feel that they had lost contact with their own doctor.