Who comes to a paediatric medical outpatient clinic?

A clinical audit was undertaken of all new patients (first referral) to a paediatric outpatient department over a six month period. There was a total of 542 children, of whom 59% were referred by a general practitioner and the remainder by paediatricians or other consultants. The conditions for which general practitioners most frequently referred children were cardiac murmurs and urinary tract problems, whereas respiratory disease, especially asthma, and hip and orthopaedic conditions were the common referrals from the specialists. Forty-four percent of general practitioner referrals were seen only once and then discharged, and there was a very low level of cross-referral to other disciplines.