TY - JOUR T1 - GPwSIs and ITPs in general practice: a case study in gynaecology JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 99 LP - 100 DO - 10.3399/bjgp13X663181 VL - 63 IS - 607 AU - Julia Humphreys AU - Uma Marthi Y1 - 2013/02/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/63/607/99.abstract N2 - General practice offers career opportunities which embrace both generalist and specialist elements and many GPs naturally develop a sub-speciality allied to primary care. The development of GPs with special interests (GPwSIs) was heralded by the publication of The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment, A Plan for Reform.1 The key messages were the creation of 1000 specialist GPs taking referrals from GP colleagues, the transfer of hospital out-patient services to the primary care setting, and greater liaison between GPs and secondary care doctors.The fundamental aims of developing specialist interests in general practice are to cut patient waiting lists via a service provision that increases the satisfaction and esteem of both doctor and patients.2 However, research into the success of these changes has revealed mixed results. A review commissioned by NHS Service Delivery and Organisation Research and Development Programme (SDO) in 2006 and carried out by Professor Martin Roland et al at the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester found that patients treated in GPwSI clinics were provided with a high level of care, good health outcomes, greater accessibility to vital services, and a reduction in waiting times.3 In contrast, Rosen, Jones, Tomlin, and Cavanagh, revealed that GPwSI clinics had an inconclusive effect on hospital referrals, a variable effect … ER -