Outpatients: can we save time and reduce waiting lists?. Issue 6631 (30th April 1988)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duncan, M; Beale, K; Parry, J; Miller, R A
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 296:Issue 6631(1988)
• Page Start: 1247
• Page End: 1248
• Publication Date: 1988-04-30
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.296.6631.1247
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : The amount of time that one consultant urologist wasted on unnecessary administration while seeing outpatients was noted over six weeks. Searching for missing clinical data and the time spent on non-medical clerical tasks took up nearly half of the consultant's sessions. This seemed to be due to insufficient clerical and secretarial staff. Because low salaries are offered to such staff vast sums of money are being paid to agencies who are providing an appreciable number (40%) of the secretarial staff in our hospitals. Urgent action from the government is needed to remedy this and thus make substantial reductions in outpatient waiting lists nationally. It would greatly improve morale in this important sector of the health service without increasing total costs.