Rheumatic fever (RF), caused by untreated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout much of the less developed world and disadvantaged populations (Indigenous and other) in the developed world. Through systematic literature searches, our group has identified potential risk factors for RF and possible interventions for its prevention. The causes can be divided into biological factors, socio-economic, and lifestyle factors and health-care systems and services. Currently, the most promising medical areas look to be improving access to health care and introducing community and school-based sore throat interventions (which aim to diagnose and treat GAS pharyngitis). We could find no convincing support for skin sepsis causing RF. Overall evidence suggests that measures that aim to alleviate poverty and crowding may also reduce the incidence of RF. In comparatively rich countries such as New Zealand and Australia, urgent measures based on available evidence should be undertaken to reduce the very striking health disparity seen with RF and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease in our at-risk populations.

It is expected acute RF cases would diminish by about 60% using a school or community clinic to treat streptococcal pharyngitis. This should be considered in high-risk populations.

INTRODUCTION Unmet needs are a key indicator of the success of a health system. Clinicians and funders in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand were concerned that unmet health need was hidden. AIM The aim of this survey was to estimate the proportion of patients attending general practice who were unable to access clinically indicated referred services. METHODS The survey used a novel method to estimate unserviced health needs. General practitioners (GPs, n = 54) asked their patients (n = 2135) during a consultation about any health needs requiring a referred service. If both agreed that a service was potentially beneficial and not available, this was documented on an e-referral system for review. The outcomes of actual referrals were also reviewed. RESULTS The patient group was broadly representative of the Canterbury population, but over-sampled female and middle-aged people and under-sampled Māori. Data adjusted to regional demographics showed that 3.6% of patients had a GP-confirmed unserviced health need. Elective orthopaedic surgery, general surgery and mental health were areas of greatest need. Unserviced health needs were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) associated with greater deprivation, middle-age, and receiving high health-use subsidies. DISCUSSION To our knowledge, this is the first survey of GP and patient agreement on unserviced referred health needs. Measuring unserviced health needs in this way is directly relevant to service planning because the gaps identified reflect clinically indicated services that patients want and need. The survey method is an improvement on declined referral rates as a measure of need. Key factors in the method were using a patient-initiated GP consultation and an e-referral system to collect data.

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