General practitioner satisfaction with 'shared care' working

Abstract

Introduction : 'Shared care' is a key element of the 10 year national strategy on drug misuse. Implementation of such schemes is patchy across the country and general practitioners have traditionally been reluctant to participate in them. This paper is an evaluation of general practitioner satisfaction of shared care in Leeds. Method : All 50 participating general practitioners were surveyed by anonymous postal questionnaire. Results : Ninety-six per cent of questionnaires were accounted for. Few respondents reported experiences of barriers to treatment and most reported satisfaction with the structure of the service and specialist support. Ninety-one per cent were satisfied that the scheme was an appropriate service to offer. Discussion : It is thought that the success of the scheme can be attributed to fast assessments, clear protocols, good communication and access to a consultant-led specialist unit for backup. Conclusion : Developing schemes which are in line with usual NHS structures is likely to be attractive to general practitioners and may encourage their participation.

• Shared Care
• Opiate
• Practitioner