General practitioner fees: the effect of an additional 10% goods and services tax.

The effects of an increase in general practitioner fees on the timing of decisions to seek certain consultations were studied at the time of the introduction of a 10% goods and services tax (GST) on 1 October 1986. Fifty-six general practitioners collected information on 4113 consecutive paediatric consultations over a four week study period. The price rise itself appeared to have little or no effect either on numbers attending, pattern of illness or on the timing of consultations. However, private medical insurance may have influenced decisions on when to seek medical attention.