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.