Are follow-up consultations at medical outpatient departments futile?

Of 260 follow-up medical outpatient consultations analysed by 12 general practitioners in the Northern Region, a large proportion appeared to be a complete waste of time. One follow-up consultation should be the normal for the great majority of cases and if more are necessary specific reasons should be given. Great economies could be made in the National Health Service by reducing medical outpatient follow-ups.