Uses of the accident and emergency department in Scotland: Patient characteristics and expectations

Conclusions Judging from our findings one must really consider the feasibility of ever directing a significant number of potential AED patients to their GP. Wood reported that AED casual attendance is due to ‘principally a combination of low expectation of care for such problem (minor trauma) from GPs and anticipation of referral’. 13 The majority of patients in our study actually used the system in accordance with expected health-seeking behaviour in the community. Our results suggest that deeply rooted community expectations and patient preference will continue to create an expanding AED census. Given the continuous availability of radiologic and surgical capability, the AED may actually be the most efficient location for care of injury and acute conditions in the community.