For each face to face consultation the following information would be recorded: the time they left home; time of arrival at hospital, time spent waiting for consultation, expense of attendance, both travel costs but also any indirect costs such as babysitting charges and loss of earnings. For each telephone consultation the number of patients having to be reviewed within the next 2 weeks of the telephone consultation would be recorded, whether such expedited follow up was at the patient's or the doctor's behest.