Abstract:
AIMS: To document trends in availability and use of general practitioner services and in patterns of clinical activity for the Waikato over the period 1979-80 to 1991-92. METHODS: The data are drawn from a baseline and a follow-up survey of general practice in the Waikato region representing a 1% sample of all in-surgery, in-hours, week-day encounters at two points in time. The data were recorded by participating general practitioners in four collection weeks spaced over the period of a year. In total, 9468 and 10,235 patient encounter forms were completed. RESULTS: While the number of general practitioners increased by a half over the period, average workload declined by a fifth, the inflation-adjusted value of the usual adult fee increased by nearly 50% and visits went up by an average of a half a visit a year. Clinical activity declined for prescribing but increased for referral and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in availability of general practitioners over the last decade has been associated with significant changes in patterns of practice organisation, service utilisation and clinical activity. Further research is required into the potential impact of greater service availability on patient demand and resource use.
