Woodlands Health Centre, Paddock Wood A "Before and After" Study of the Workload of the General Practitioners and of the Views and Experiences of Patients

This is a report of a study of the work of a three-principal practice and of the views and experiences of some of the patients before and after the opening of a health centre which replaced the old main surgery of the

practice - the branch surgery of the practice continued to function. The work of the practice was studied over the period August 1970 to Hay 1972 using an augmented form of the L Book. The centre opened in January 1971. A sample of patients was questioned just before the centre opened and then again about one and a half years later. On this latter occasion a fresh sample of patients was also questioned. In addition a survey of all main surgery attenders concerning the method of transport they used to the surgery and

the origin of their journey was undertaken for two three-week periods, one just before the health centre opened and the other a year later.