RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Changing pattern of referral to a diabetes clinic following implementation of the new UK GP contract JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 624 OP 626 VO 56 IS 529 A1 Umasuthan Srirangalingam A1 Senthur K Sahathevan A1 Shawarna S Lasker A1 Tahseen A Chowdhury YR 2006 UL http://bjgp.org/content/56/529/624.abstract AB Background The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the new GMS contract on referral patterns to a secondary care diabetes clinic. All new patient referrals received from primary care to a hospital diabetes service were surveyed. No significant change in referrals was seen 6 months after implementation of the GMS contract. There was, however, an increase in referrals for poor glycaemic control after implementation of the new GMS contract, and the glycaemic threshold for referral with poor glycaemic control has reduced (9.7% versus 10.6%, P = 0.006, mean difference = 0.9% [95% confidence interval = 0.4 to 1.3%]).