Abstract
Waitemata DHB serves a population of approximately 500,000. There are 396 general practitioners who refer to the services. Approximately 400 patients are referred per month. Budget constraints mean not all patients referred can be seen and various Ministry of Health guidelines and Health and Disability Commission rulings help to determine which patients will be seen.
All referrals to the service are assessed by one surgeon. There are specific requirements for referral of patients with certain complaints.
Assistance is given to the general practitioner in organising the more specialist investigations. Help is given to GPs by telephone for patient management particularly of the simpler conditions.
Approximately a quarter of patients referred are referred back to the GP. MRI and CT scans are arranged of which half are returned.
Time must be allocated within the department to allow this specialist liaison with GPs to occur.
Correspondence should be addressed to Associate Professor N. Susan Stott, Orthopaedic Department, Starship Children’s Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland, New Zealand.
