I appreciated Natasha Elmore’s thoughtful and considered responses to correspondence linked to her recent publication.1–3
We previously carried out work on giving patients the choice of appointment length,4 and found (contrary to GPs’ expectation) that patients were accurate at estimating appointment length required. Having chosen a specific appointment length, patients also gave careful thought as to how they may manage their own consultation, based on consult duration preference.
REFERENCES
- 1.Elmore N, Burt J, Abel G, et al. Sharing control of appointment length with patients in general practice: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16X687733. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 2.Elmore N, Burt J. Consultation length: author response to Dr Brian Goss. [Letter] Br J Gen Pract. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X689521. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 3.Elmore N, Burt J. Consultation length: author response to Dr Brigid Joughin. [Letter] Br J Gen Pract. 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X689533. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 4.Sampson R, O’Rourke J, Hendry R, et al. Sharing control of appointment length with patients in general practice: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract. 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp13X664234. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]