The organisation of group practice : a report of a sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee.
- Great Britain. Standing Medical Advisory Committee
- Date:
- 1971
Licence: Open Government Licence
Credit: The organisation of group practice : a report of a sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![possible stage in the planning of group practice centres* consultation should take place with representatives of the pharmaceutical profession in the area to ensure provision of pharmaceutical services. (Paragraphs 171-175) (80). Chiropody services can be readily provided at group practice centres.” (Paragraph 176) (81). It is uneconomic to provide in health centres* dental services solely for priority groups. Clinical, organisational and financial advantages might follow the provision of dental facilities in group practice centres* though no group (medical) practice centre providing dental facilities should contain less than two dentists. Both ethical considerations and present methods of remuneration raise obstacles to doctors and dentists working together in group practice.* Never- theless, there are advantages if dentists providing the full range of general dental services work from the same premises as doctors. We recommend that experi- ments should take place and that the results should be studied by both professions. (Paragraphs 177-180) The Relationship between the Hospital and Group Practice—Chapter XI (82). The interdependence of the community and hospital-based medical services must be recognised and medical care should be provided in the appropriate medical and social context. (Paragraphs 181-183) (83). The aim should be to care for people at home when they are ill unless the specialist services within the hospital are necessary. (Paragraph 184) (84). Economic as well as humanitarian advantages would probably follow a change of emphasis from the hospital towards care in the community. (Para- graph 185) (85). The development of the district general hospital is likely to intensify the difficulties associated with removing some patients, particularly the elderly, to hospital. (Paragraph 183) (86). The standards of general practice are enhanced if general practitioners have access to hospitals. Most general practitioners could undertake the care of some patients in hospital provided it were easily accessible. This may be an important argument in favour of retaining some of the smaller hospitals. (Paragraphs 186- 187) (87). At the present time substantial numbers of patients are inappropriately using costly hospital services. Social necessity, rather than medical need, accounts for the presence of many patients in hospital: these do not require any greater medical or nursing attention than could be given by the community care* team and they could, with advantage, be cared for in nursing units. (Paragraph 191) (88). Some nursing units might be based on existing cottage hospitals whilst others might be established in close proximity to group practice centres.* There is a need for experiment with different methods of providing nursing care in the community to avoid admitting some patients unnecessarily to the district general hospital. (Paragraphs 195 and 200) *See definitions on pages 2 and 3. 1]](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32223328_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
