Background: The 1990 contract for general practitioners encouraged them to undertake minor surgical procedures in their practices.
Aim: A study was undertaken to determine whether the subsequent expansion of general practitioner minor surgery activity was accompanied by changes in quality of care.
Method: Data were analysed relating to minor operations conducted in 22 practices during April-June 1990 and April-June 1991.
Results: The volume of general practitioner minor surgery increased by 41% between the two study periods. Waiting time, accuracy of diagnosis, use of histology, adequacy of excision, complications and the need for corrective treatment in hospital did not change significantly between the two periods.
Conclusion: The findings do not support suggestions that the expansion of general practitioner minor surgery activity following the 1990 contract has been associated with an erosion of quality of care.