Anthony Downes, Angela Lownds and Mark Goldman
A questionnaire concerning their out‐patient consultation wascompleted by 372 patients attending 17 different clinics over a two‐dayperiod at East Birmingham Hospital. The…
Abstract
A questionnaire concerning their out‐patient consultation was completed by 372 patients attending 17 different clinics over a two‐day period at East Birmingham Hospital. The majority were satisfied with their consultations and felt better informed but many waited excessively long periods and many could not give the name or status of the doctor they had seen. The patients identified the hospital doctor as being more knowledgeable and, therefore, preferable for follow‐up care when compared to their general practitioner. Because of this, they were prepared to be inconvenienced to achieve hospital follow‐up.