Abstract
UK GPs are no longer responsible for the organisation of out-of-hours care for their patients, but resources remains capitation-based. This cross-sectional study tests whether council tax valuation bands can predict the demand for such services. All out-of-hours contacts made by patients in North Wiltshire over 4 months were classified by council tax band; frequencies compared with official population statistics. Council tax band predicts out-of-hours GP workload irrespective of age and sex: the more modest the home, the higher the GP contact rate. It may prove more difficult to sustain out-of-hours services in deprived parts of the UK.
- council tax valuation band
- health resources
- out-of-hours medical care
- primary care
- socioeconomic factors
- workload
- Received January 24, 2005.
- Revision received April 7, 2005.
- Accepted July 29, 2005.
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2006.