General medical follow-up clinics - does the traditional model need to be updated for new traditional model need to be updated for new acute physicians?

The follow up arrangements were reviewed for 212 patients discharged from our Medical Admissions Unit (MAU) prior to the appointment of an acute medical consultant. 19 patients (9%) were referred to speciality clinics, with only 1 patient being followed-up in a 'general' medical clinic; the patient's GP was requested to follow up the majority of the outstanding results. Based on these results there appears little need or acute medical consultants to undertake 'traditional' outpatient follow-up clinics. Acute medical clinics may have other roles in enabling admission avoidance and reducing length of hospital stay.