Changing pattern of referral to a diabetes clinic following implementation of the new UK GP contract.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the new GMS contract on referral patterns to a secondary care diabetes clinic. All new patient referrals received from primary care to a hospital diabetes service were surveyed. No significant change in referrals was seen 6 months after implementation of the GMS contract. There was, however, an increase in referrals for poor glycaemic control after implementation of the new GMS contract, and the glycaemic threshold for referral with poor glycaemic control has reduced (9.7% versus 10.6%, P = 0.006, mean difference = 0.9% [95% confidence interval = 0.4 to 1.3%]).