Aanvullende diagnostiek op Nederlandse huisartsenpost

Objective To determine GPs' access to diagnostic tests (medical imaging, laboratory tests, and pointofcare tests) during GP outofhours care in the Netherlands and to assess whether access differs between services located adjacent to or separate from an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. Design Crosssectional survey. Method In 2014 we invited all GP outofhours services in the Netherlands to participate in a survey on GPs' access to diagnostic tests in Dutch GP outofhours services. Results 117 GP outofhours services participated in the survey; response rate 100%. Although access to diagnostic tests during GP outofhours care varied across services, overall there was limited access. Electrocardiography was available in 26% (30/117) of all services, and conventional radiography in 19% (22/117). Access to various types of laboratory tests ranged between 37% (43/117) and 65% (76/117). All services had glucose pointofcare tests and urine dipstick tests available. We observed no relevant differences in access to inhouse diagnostic tests between services adjacent to or separate from an A&E department. More than half (56%) of outofhours services expressed plans to expand their diagnostic facilities. Conclusion GPs in the Netherlands have limited and varying access to diagnostic tests in GP outofhours services. GPs working in outofhours services adjacent to A&E departments do not have wider access to diagnostic tests than GPs working at a separate location. With current developments towards joint organisation structures of GP outofhours services and A&E departments in the Netherlands, The organisation of diagnostic facilities within outofhours care may be subject of debate.