RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Discrepancies in the availability of open access services: comparison between the Northern and Oxford regions
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 28
OP 29
VO 38
IS 306
A1 R.A. Douglass
A1 A.S. Hungin
YR 1988
UL http://bjgp.org/content/38/306/28.abstract
AB General practitioners have long been aware of variations in the range of open access services available to them. This study compares the availability of 22 open access services in the Northern and Oxford regions and examines possible reasons for variations. From data collected from general practitioners and community managers two striking patterns emerge. First, there is a difference between the regions with wider availability in the Oxford region. Secondly, there are differences in the range of services available between health authorities, sometimes neighbouring, within the same region, although this is less marked in Oxford. These discrepancies probably reflect the situation nationally and it would appear questionable whether there is any policy coordination at regional or national level to ensure an equitable distribution of open access services.