We have audited the frequency and nature of demands made on general pr
actitioners, and the rate of surgical and anaesthetic complications wi
thin the first 7 days after day surgery. Semi-structured questionnaire
s were posted to the general practitioners of patients who attended th
e hospital's day care ward for a surgical procedure over a 6 month per
iod. In all, 1798 questionnaires were sent, of which 1533 (85.3%) were
returned. A total of 247 (16.7%) patients consulted their general pra
ctitioners after day surgery, the principal reason being pain (113 pat
ients). who underwent incisional intermediate had the highest rate (31
.5%) of general practitioner consultations. This audit has quantified
the workload which day surgery places upon general practitioners. It a
lso demonstrates the importance of categorising the various procedures
performed on a day case basis when examining patient outcome. Patient
s who underwent non-incisional minor surgery consulted their general p
ractitioner less often than those who underwent incisional minor surge
ry, who in turn consulted their practitioner less often than those who
underwent incisional intermediate surgery. It seems likely that an in
crease in workload for general practitioners is inevitable if more com
plex procedures are performed on a day case basis.