General practice workload implications of the national service framework for coronary heart disease: cross sectional survey

Abstract
Editorial by Toop and Richards Standards one to four of the national service framework for coronary heart disease require general practitioners in England to identify all patients with established coronary heart disease or stroke, record their coronary risk factors, and offer appropriate treatment and to identify and treat patients at high risk of developing coronary heart disease.1 We estimated the general practice workload involved in meeting these goals. We invited 65 practices randomly selected from the 51 primary care groups in the Trent region to participate; 24 practices volunteered and 18 were recruited.2 Ethical approval was obtained. We identified two target groups of high risk patients aged 35-74: patients with a Read code for ischaemic heart disease or stroke or at least one prescription for a nitrate (group 1),3 and patients with a computer recorded Read code for diabetes or hypertension (excluding those in group 1) who would be at high risk of developing coronary …