PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Fry, John AU - Dillane, John B. TI - Workload in a general practice 1950-85 DP - 1986 Sep 01 TA - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners PG - 403--404 VI - 36 IP - 290 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/36/290/403.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/36/290/403.full SO - J R Coll Gen Pract1986 Sep 01; 36 AB - Annual patient consultation rates have been recorded continuously for 36 years in a stable National Health Service practice in a south-east London suburb. Four phases in consultation rates were noted: rising rates from 1950 to 1956; peak rates from 1957 to 1963; falling rates from 1964 to 1970 and low stable rates from 1971 to 1985. Thus workload fell by almost 50%, from a peak of 3.81 to a low of 1.93 consultations per patient per year. The reduction of 91% in home visits was much greater than the 43% reduction in surgery (office) consultations. Certain questions are raised by the study: why are the consultation rates of this practice so low (one half the national rates); why have consultation rates in the practice fallen; and how many general practitioners are needed by the NHS? More studies are needed which compare practices, their processes and outcomes, and which analyse cost benefits in the health service.