Factors influencing neurological care

OBJECTIVE: To analyse certain factors which contribute to the existing backlog in specialised neurological care, such as: where the patient was referred from, the reason for the appointment, tests carried out and the final diagnosis. We used a random sample of patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study of patients referred from Primary Care, who were attended as out-patients in the Neurology clinic during 1991. SITE. Health Area 2 of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The average number of patients per doctor sent from each one of the seven Centres studied was 7.69, with outliers of between 2 and 21, with a standard deviation of 3.95 and a rate of 51.31%. The proportion of new patients to patients having follow-up checks was 2 to 3, respectively. The differences between the number of patients sent from the different centres were found in the less serious pathologies. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the criteria used by Primary Care professionals and specialists should be strengthened and unified. This was one of the factors which weighed most on the quality and backlog of care.