OUTPATIENT FOLLOW-UP AFTER ROUTINE SURGERY - A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY

A questionnaire was sent to all consultant general surgeons and urolog ists in Wales to assess current practice in out-patient follow-up afte r surgery for nine commonly performed procedures. A further questionna ire was sent to a random sample of general practitioners in South Glam organ to assess the possibility of GPs taking on responsibility for po st-operative follow-up. This should, therefore, reduce the number of p ost-operative patients passing through the out-patient department. Of the 58 (77%) consultants who responded, the percentage who routinely f ollowed up patients with at least one postoperative visit was calculat ed. Of the 33 (66%) GPs who responded the percentage who were prepared to take responsibility for post-operative follow-up was calculated fo r patients having the same operations. There was agreement and disagre ement between consultants and GPs, but no distinct pattern emerged. A larger study must be performed before the out-patient department is ra tionalized using protocols based on this study.