Reactions of general practitioners, district nurses and specialist providers to the development of a community palliative care service

Abstract

Hospice care is evolving from the traditional in-patient bedded unit into a system of support which is community focused. The cornerstone of this ‘community model’ of palliative care rests on successful collaboration with the primary health care team (PHCT). However, there is evidence that establishing a community service is not straightforward, and acceptance in principle is not always translated into practice. This article presents the findings of an evaluation of one such community palliative care service from the perspective of local general practitioners (GPs) and district nurses (DNs). A combination of interview and survey data is presented. A positive picture emerges. The findings suggest that the task of promoting and integrating the service in the community has been successful. The service was seen by members of the PHCT as helping to provide a choice of care settings and helping patients to remain at home. It was not perceived as having caused extra work or complicated lines of communication. However, it is an area which will require constant attention as other factors come into play.