THE ROLE OF THE GENERAL-PRACTITIONER HOSPITAL IN INPATIENT CARE

The rationale of the general practitioner hospital continues to be que stioned. A study of the services and case-mix of two of the four remai ning general practitioner hospitals in Northern Ireland was undertaken to determine whether the nature and cost of inpatient care in these h ospitals was comparable to the available alternatives. The case-notes of all non-maternity admissions (n=509) were reviewed. The two hospita ls provide acute medical care for a wide range of patients. The majori ty of patients appeared to require hospitalisation. It is likely that the beds at the two hospitals were mainly a substitute for district ge neral hospital care. The general practitioner hospitals were estimated to be less costly than alternative forms of care, although it was dou btful whether they fulfilled all the structural criteria of quality ge nerally regarded as important for hospitals of this type.