| Abstract: | Summary Referrals from general practitioners to a social services departmentover a period of six months were analyzed with a view to assessingthe quality of communication. It was found that the referrals,predominantly related to ill health and practical problems,frequently lacked important background information, and manywere considered to be innacurate or inadequate. A high proportionof allocated referrals led to no contact, and there were significantdifferences between the various social services workers in thenature and extent of contacts made. General practitioners rarelycontacted the social services department during intervention.Social workers were the most consistent in involving G.P.s incase management, and the doctors, when contacted, were rarelyunhelpful, and frequently helpful. A wide variety of alternativeactions were discussed when contact was made, and there wasgenerally a high degree of agreement. Contact with G.P.s consideredto have a positive view of social services was more extensivethan with other G.P.s, and positive G.P.s were generally consideredmost helpful. |
