A methodological framework to derive the cost of the GP consultation.

With an emphasis on a primary care-led NHS, the cost of a GP consultation will be a major element in any economic analysis. No standardized methodology is available for deriving this cost, and there are a wide range of estimates. Wherever possible, local unit costs should be derived from individual practice information, particularly when local circumstances are relevant to a study, but unless standardized methodology is used, studies undertaken in different settings or at different times will not be compatible. This paper proposes a framework which will enable each practice to determine their unit consultation costs and offers data that can be used where local information is not available.