Does closing branch surgeries affect home visiting?

Abstract

Home visiting rates in a rural general practice were compared for 12 months before and 12 months after five branch surgeries were closed. In villages whose surgeries were closed no statistically significant change occurred in the new or repeat visiting rates. The consulting rate at the main surgery remained constant over the two years. Although visiting rates to villages that had had a branch surgery did not change after the closures, the pattern of visiting to these villages became more rational.