Abstract
UK GPs are no longer responsible for the organisation of out-of-hours care for their patients, but resources remains capitation-based. This cross-sectional study tests whether council tax valuation bands can predict the demand for such services. All out-of-hours contacts made by patients in North Wiltshire over 4 months were classified by council tax band; frequencies compared with official population statistics. Council tax band predicts out-of-hours GP workload irrespective of age and sex: the more modest the home, the higher the GP contact rate. It may prove more difficult to sustain out-of-hours services in deprived parts of the UK.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 283-285 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | British Journal of General Practice |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 525 |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |