RESUMO
In a general private urban practice 179 calls were received between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. during twelve working months. One hundred and sixty-three calls were answered. Every fourth came from a person aged 65 years and over. Pain in the abdomen or side was the most frequent single complaint. The diagnosis made most frequently were gastro-enteritis and psychiatric conditions. The need for medical attendance at the time existed in one half of the cases visited before 10 p.m. and in three quarters of those seen later. Calls concerning the clientele of this practice numbered 112 but only 18 patients were under my treatment at the time. Sixty-seven callls were received from outsiders of whom about two thirds had no regular doctor. The following conclusions can be drawn: in this community the incidence of necessary calls after hours appears sufficiently high to support the public's demand for doctors being available for home visits at any time. The number of calls received from other than regular patients (one third of the total) indicates that at present obtaining medical attention at night entails an undue amount of chance. Pending the introduction of a comprehensive health service a rota of practitioners on call after hours would be of help both to the patient and the doctor. (AU)
