PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Jiwa, Moyez AU - Mathers, Nigel AU - Campbell, Mike TI - The effect of GP telephone triage on numbers seeking same-day appointments. DP - 2002 May 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - 390--391 VI - 52 IP - 478 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/52/478/390.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/52/478/390.full SO - Br J Gen Pract2002 May 01; 52 AB - Telephone consultations with general practitioners (GPs) have not been shown to be an effective way to reduce the demandfor face-to face appointments during the surgery hours. This study aims to determine if GP telephone triage can effectively reduce the demandforface-to -face consultations for patients seeking same-day appointments in general practice. We report an interrupted time series, twoyears before and one year after introduction of GP-led telephone triage. Demand for face-to face appointments with a GPwas reduced by 39% (95% CI = 29 to 51%, P < 0.001). more than 92% of the telephone calls lasted less thanfive minutes. The telephone bill increased by 26%. For a substantial proportion of patients seeking same-day appointments telephone consultations were an acceptable alternative service.