OPEN ACCESS TO INVESTIGATIONAL PROCEDURES FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER.

Dr David Wheatley produces figures to show that, in his area of practice, open access to pathology at one large hospital has resulted in less work being undertaken than at another large hospital, where such access is unavailable. He stresses the necessity for open access to such services, including X-rays and ECGs, if a high standard of general practice is to be maintained.Professor R E Steiner, although agreeing with the concept of open access for the general practitioner, believes that at present this should be limited by the facilities available. He describes such a service which has been made available to general practitioners at Hammersmith Hospital for diagnostic X-rays, and stresses the importance of personal consultation between specialist and general practitioner.Dr D Stark Murray describes the system of complete open access to the pathology laboratory, which has been in operation at Kingston Hospital over the past twenty-five years. He shows the use which has been made of the service by local general practitioners and stresses that this is an essential part of the health service.