Arterial sling tourniquet: new method of clamping vessels.

surgery hours or that self-referral to hospital would hasten treatment; in several instances the patient was unable to contact the family doctor (7.9%) or on doing so was directed to hospital (3.2%). It is unlikely that any emergency service can be organized to be ideal to all concerned, but there does seem to be a disturbing trend in the receiving of "acute" cases. This may be peculiar to the Glasgow Western Area, though the general impression is that it may be a widespread urban problem. The most satisfactory method of emergency admission is where the patient has been referred by his own family doctor and full discussion on a doctor-to-doctor basis has taken place between the general practitioner and the hospital junior physician. This kind of referral, however, is slowly decreasing (see Chart). This transfer of decision regarding referral of patients to hospital out of the family doctor's hands into Ahe patient's is to be regretted when one considers what should be the role of the family doctor and the function of the hospital in the community.