Table 1

Staff attitudes towards perceived patient motives for coming to the UCC

Motives perceived as legitimateMotives perceived as less legitimate

  • Acute health needs

  • Access (honestly cannot get an appointment with their GP)

  • Anxiety (the ‘worried well’)

  • Not registered in the system (tourists, students, etc)

  • Convenience (claiming they cannot get an appointment with their GP)

  • Using the UCC as their regular GP (due to dissatisfaction from GP, etc)

  • Seeking quick access to hospital facilities

  • Lack of self-care skills

  • GP, general practitioner; UCC, urgent care centre.