TRENDS IN GENERAL-PRACTICE IN THE WAIKATO, 1979-80 1991-92, I - PRACTITIONER AVAILABILITY, SERVICE USE AND CLINICAL ACTIVITY/

Aims. To document trends in availability and use of general practition er 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 base line and a follow-up survey of general practice in the Waikato region representing a 1% sample of all in-surgery, in-hours, week-day encount ers at two points in time. The data were recorded by participating gen eral practitioners in four collection weeks spaced over the period of a year. In total, 9468 and 10 235 patient encounter forms were complet ed. Results. While the number of general practitioners increased by a half over the period, average workload declined by a fifth, the inflat ion-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 activi ty declined for prescribing but increased for referral and follow-up. Conclusions. The increase in availability of general practitioners ove r the last decade has been associated with significant changes in patt erns of practice organisation, service utilisation and clinical activi ty. Further research is required into the potential impact of greater service availability on patient demand and resource use.