Patient and practitioner views of a new rheumatology (Tier 2) primary care service

The rheumatology Tier 2 service in Oldham wasimplemented to see patients in a primary caresetting for their initial assessment. They were treatedand discharged within the service, or referred on tosecondary care in order to limit inappropriateattendance in secondary care and fast-track patientswith inflammatory disease to the rheumatologyconsultant. The aim of this study was to evaluatepatients’ and general practitioners’ (GPs’) viewsabout the transfer of rheumatological servicesfrom secondary to primary care. Patients and GPswere from a single primary care trust in Oldham,north west England. A thematic analysis of interviewdata was taken, and findings showed highpatient satisfaction with the service, favouring theprimary care environment to a hospital setting. GPsreported on cost-effectiveness of the service andbetter management of the disease. The Tier 2 servicehas the potential to set a new direction for multiagencycare within a primary care setting