This paper presents the results of a study of the use by two general practices of the Reflotron dry chemistry analyser. The Reflotron is a desk top system which can perform diagnostic tests using a drop of blood, for components such as haemoglobin, glucose and cholesterol, and produces results...

Diabetes mellitus is a disease with major long-term implications, not only for the health and well-being of affected individuals, but also for costs to the National Health Service. Treatment of the disease and its complications takes up to 4-5% of total health care expenditure in the UK. These...

The purpose of this study was to estimate the costs and benefits of the use of erythropoietin (EPO) in the treatment of anaemia arising from chronic renal failure. Recurrent dialysis of chronic renal failure (CRF) patients results in their haemoglobin being depleted and the patient becoming...

This paper will concentrate on the use of technology in general practice rather than in primary care as a whole. The following items are discussed in turn: basic medical equipment, minor surgery, diagnostic technology and information technology. The results of a study of the use of fundholding...

This paper describes a study of local evidence from 6 socioeconomically different areas of England about the development of minor surgery in general practice since the 1990 contract. The results are discussed in relation to a review of the literature on minor surgery in general practice....

There is evidence that the numbers of diagnostic tests performed in hospital laboratories could be reduced without affecting outcomes to patients, and with significant concommitant reduction in costs. The concentration of testing in centralised laboratories located in larger hospitals, and the...