Table 2

Practice characteristics at baseline and numbers of patient encounters

Intervention groupControl group
*≥1500 addresses per km2.
Practices at baseline:
    Total6262
    Single handed38 (61%)38 (61%)
    Mean age of GPs >45 years26 (42%)24 (39%)
    <2500 patients per full time equivalent GP22 (35%)19 (31%)
    Urban location*26 (42%)25 (40%)
    Training practice18 (29%)17 (27%)
    ≥0.8 full time equivalent practice   assistant employed per 2500 patients40 (65%)44 (71%)
Patient encounters:
Newly diagnosed hypertension
    Baseline122153
    Post-intervention93107
Treated hypertension
    Baseline19941854
    Post-intervention16051725
Hypercholesterolaemia
    Baseline247288
    Post-intervention174172
Angina pectoris
    Baseline169166
    Post-intervention14897
Heart failure
    Baseline121115
    Post-intervention7576