Table 2

Simple linear regression analysis for GP access, population characteristics, and underlying ill-health against avoidable emergency department attendances across three time periods

2007–20082008–20092007–2009
VariableBeta95% CIBeta95% CIBeta95% CI
Total opening hours per week per 1000 patientsa0.296−20.34 to 0.6150.318−10.127 to 0.6470.307−0.975 to 0.623
Total whole-time equivalents per 1000 patientsa0.473−0.63 to 10.570.312−0.826 to 10.450.393−0.700 to 10.48
Satisfied with the GP practiceb, %0.130−10.95 to 20.210.332−10.81 to 20.480.231−10.83 to 20.30
Able to get through to the GP practice on the telephoneb, %−0.182−10.26 to 0.899−0.257−10.37 to 0.859−0.220−10.29 to 0.855
Able to speak to a GPb, %−0.519−10.78 to 0.748−0.452−10.76 to 0.859−0.485−10.75 to 0.774
Able to get an appointment fairly quicklyb, %−0.690−10.93 to 0.550−10.11−20.38 to 0.152−0.902−20.13 to 0.323
Able to book aheadb, %−0.218−10.40 to 0.971−0.084−10.31 to 10.15−0.151−10.33 to 10.03
Satisfied with the opening hoursb, %10.06−0.929 to 30.0710.08−0.981 to 30.1510.07−0.908 to 30.06
Desired more opening hoursb, %−0.277−20.54 to 10.98−0.404−20.74 to 10.93−0.341−20.58 to 10.91
Felt out-of-hours care took a long timeb, %−0.497−10.82 to 0.822−0.665−20.02 to 0.694−0.581−10.89 to 0.727
Felt that the out-of-hours GP service was goodb, %0.534−0.976 to 20.0410.05−0.494 to 20.590.792−0.701 to 20.29
Able to see a preferred GPb, %−0.459−10.66 to 0.744−0.798−20.03 to 0.435−0.629−10.819 to 0.562
Had to wait a long time at the GP practiceb, %0.389−0.807 to 10.580.514−0.719 to 10.750.451−0.735 to 10.64
Registered population that live within 1 km from the GP practicea, %−0.453−10.67 to 0.772−0.145−10.42 to 10.13−0.299−10.52 to 0.921
Malec, %10.31−30.29 to 50.910.809−30.95 to 50.5710.06−30.51 to 50.63
On GP register and aged >65 yearsc, %−0.377−40.42 to 30.66−20.37−60.50 to 10.77−10.37−50.38 to 20.63
On GP register and whitec, %20.400.057 to 40.7410.74−0.714 to 40.1920.07−0.272 to 40.41
Standardised Mortality Ratioc20.1210.02 to 30.2220.1910.06 to 30.3320.1610.07 to 30.25
Registered population receiving incapacity benefitsc, %200.68120.95 to 280.42270.10200.24 to 330.97230.89160.81 to 300.98
Registered lone-parent householdsc, %150.12100.19 to 200.05180.37130.86 to 220.87160.74120.19 to 210.29
On GP register and in a lone-pensioner householdc, %−0.524−160.22 to 150.17−30.55−190.74 to 120.64−20.04−170.6 to 130.55
Index of Multiple Deprivationc50.3530.59 to 70.1060.9150.42 to 80.4160.1340.56 to 70.70

  • ↵a Brent Commissioning.20

  • ↵b General Practice Patient Satisfaction Survey.22

  • ↵c London Health Observatory — GP practice profiles.21

  • Data in bold represent P<0.05.