DIRECT ACCESS EXERCISE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY - A NEW SERVICE THAT IMPROVES THE MANAGEMENT OF SUSPECTED ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE IN THE COMMUNITY

Objective-To assess the safety and value of an exercise electrocardiog raphy service for the diagnosis of suspected ischaemic heart disease t o which general practitioners have direct access. Design-Direct access to a hospital exercise electrocardiography service was offered on a t rial basis to 122 general practitioners in a defined urban area. Maxim al exercise tests were performed according to the modified Bruce proto col and the results were despatched promptly to the referring doctors who were responsible for the subsequent management of their patients. Setting-All general practices in north and west Belfast (combined list size about 180 000) and the regional medical cardiology centre.