RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Role of branch surgeries in a rural area
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 488
OP 491
VO 34
IS 266
A1 R. M. G. Fearn
A1 R. M. Haynes
A1 C. G. Bentham
YR 1984
UL http://bjgp.org/content/34/266/488.abstract
AB Surveys of general practitioners and rural residents were conducted in Norfolk to establish the characteristics of branch surgeries in the district and the patients who use them. The branch surgeries tend to serve an unrepresentative section of patients, predominantly those disadvantaged both in health and personal mobility—those from manual social classes, the elderly and those without cars. While doctors and patients were agreed that lower standards of care are provided in most branch surgeries compared with main surgeries, the evidence suggests that branch surgeries nevertheless meet a social need.