Results of study on walk-in centres are only to be expected

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7368.839

BMJ 2002;325:839 ( 12 October )

Letters

Results of study on walk-in centres are only to be expected

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EDITOR $---$ I was surprised by the obvious bias in the study by Grant et al comparing the quality of care in walk-in centres withthat in general practice and from NHS Direct.¹ The authorsare astute enough to limit their conclusions to the range of conditionsunder study. I don't think there was much of a range. All theconditions assessed are classic walk-in conditions. Note alsothey are "conditions," not patients. I doubt the walk-in clinicswould have done so well with real standardisedpatients.

For example, for Mrs Smith who presents with coronary heart failure, deteriorating renal function, failing sight, diabetes,deafness, and no social support, general practice would have comeinto its own. Walk-in clinics can perform quick tasks well, orthey would be out of business. Grant et al might as well havecompared the management of these "cases" by obstetricians if theywant walk-in . . . [Full text of this article]

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An observational study comparing quality of care in walk-in centres with general practice and NHS Direct using standardised patients: Clare Grant, Ruth Nicholas, Laurence Moore, and Chris Salisbury
BMJ 2002 324: 1556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]