§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in educating the public to understand that their source of primary care is with their registered medical practitioner, in order to prevent the overloading of accident and emergency departments of hospitals with cases that hinder them from performing their intended services.
§ Dr. VaughanPosters have been issued for display in accident and emergency departments and general practitioner surgeries exhorting patients to consult their general medical practitioner first unless they are in need of urgent hospital treatment. Leaflets are also available for issue to patients containing advice on how best to seek medical treatment.
Figures are not available centrally on numbers of patients requiring non-urgent treatment attending accident and emergency departments without prior reference to their family doctor.