An investigation into GPs with high patient mortality rates: a retrospective study.

Background: As part of the work of the Shipman Inquiry, five general practitioners (GPs) in West Sussex were identified as having excessively high mortality rates. The aim of this study was to identify reasons for the higher-than-expected mortality rates of these five GPs.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of routine mortality and patient registration data from primary-care practices in West Sussex, and the case notes of deceased patients were reviewed.

Trade-offs between location and waiting times in the provision of health care: the case of elective surgery on the Isle of Wight.

Background: Recent UK government documents have stated that, within the National Health Service, consumers should be more involved in decision-making. This study considered the technique of discrete choice conjoint analysis (DCCA) for eliciting community views regarding the importance of reducing waiting times. More specifically, the study aimed to establish whether residents living on the Isle of Wight are prepared to travel to the mainland for elective surgery where waiting times are shorter but travel costs may be greater, and, further, if residents are willing to travel, what reduction in waiting time and increase in travel costs would be acceptable.