Half of ED patients could have seen a GP: study

Nearly 40% failed to contact a GP before heading to hospital, Queensland researchers say
Emergency department

Almost half of the patients who visited a Queensland ED had health problems that could have been handled by a GP, a study reveals.

The team analysed data on patients attending the Mount Isa ED in 2016, and surveyed more than 360 people who attended the ED in that year. They also  analysed patient records for 400 randomly selected presentations.