Table 1 Primary care models [20]

Inside – integrated services (I-I)

Primary care services fully integrated within EDs. Staff review primary and emergency care patients (n = 3).

These were not visible to patients/patients generally unaware of GPs working in EDs (Hospitals 3, 9, 14).

Inside-parallel services (I-P)

Separate (distinct) primary care service within ED for patients with primary care type problems (n = 4), were not visible (Hospitals 4, 8), or visible but separate and patients were streamed by ED/111 (telephone service): patients were unaware of them (Hospital 7), or services accessible from ED that the public were aware of (Hospital 6).

Outside-onsite sites (O-O)

Separate (distinct) primary care services on-site (n = 3) were visible, offering walk-in services that the public were aware of (Hospitals 10,11). Or primary care services within different part of the hospital and patients streamed from ED/111 (Hospital 13).