ARE PATIENTS WHO PRESENT LATE WITH CANCER REGISTERED WITH LOW REFERRING PRACTICES

This study examines whether a clinical outcome (stage of breast or bow el cancer at referral) was related to variations in GP referral rates. A multivariate analysis of breast and bowel cancer patients referred from 183 Nottinghamshire practices during 1993 showed no adverse outco me associated with low GP referral rates. Variables included in the an alysis were total and surgical referral rates, fundholding status, UPA (8) score of the practice, partnership size, and age and sex of the re ferred patient.