asked the Minister for Health the number of out-patients visits handled in the most recent year available and the distribution of these cases into the following classifications: (a) first time referral by a GP; (b) the return visit to the out-patient clinics; (c) accident casualty cases; and (d) self-referral visits by persons; and the number of out-patient visits in each of these categories that led to admission to hospital.
Written Answers. - Out-Patient Clinics.
564.
Statistics are collected by my Department on attendances at consultant staffed out-patient clinics. The total number of attendances at these clinics in 1983 was 1,528,242. Of these the total number of new (first time) attendances was 358,354
and the total number of return attendances was 1,169,888. These do not include attendances at accident-casualty departments. There is no information available on the source of referrals to out-patient clinics or the outcome of consultations.