- Page navigation anchor for Are more GPs associated with a reduction in emergency hospital admissions?Are more GPs associated with a reduction in emergency hospital admissions?
This article is a great starter for ten.
For many years there was stigmatisation of GP's who had higher emergency hospital referral rates as referral rates were used as a crude proxy for the quality or the calibre of the GP. In some cases, non-elective referral rates were used as a metaphorical stick by the commissioners to beat GP's around the head with.
In more recent times, it has been acknowledged that this is more of a complex issue than originally thought. Factors such as GP skill mix, availability of community-based services, near-patient testing, patient cohort deprivation/complexity, GP risk appetite, global growth of the 'complaint culture', changes to the medical indemnity system and changes to GP revalidation and regulation all feed into the mix.
I think further qualitative analysis of real-world GP lived experiences would really help to further understand this topic and in doing so protect GPs and ensure that patients are seen by the correct professional, at the correct time in the correct setting.
Competing Interests: None declared.