PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - D. R. Phillips TI - Spatial patterns of surgery attendance: some implications for the provision of primary health care DP - 1980 Nov 01 TA - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners PG - 688--695 VI - 30 IP - 220 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/30/220/688.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/30/220/688.full SO - J R Coll Gen Pract1980 Nov 01; 30 AB - The results from a survey of the use of general practitioner services are discussed to illustrate variations in patterns of surgery attendance. These patterns were partly influenced by factors such as social status and personal mobility of respondents. Age of respondents did not cause much differentiation of patterns but respondents were often found to be maintaining contact with practices in areas in which they previously lived, even where this involved travelling considerable distances. The implications of these findings are considered, given current tendencies to centralize primary care services, particularly into neighbourhood health centres.