St Columba's Hospice Home Care Service: an evaluation study

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Abstract
Between January 1988 and December 1989 a study to evaluate the Home Care Service of St Columba's Hospice (Edinburgh, UK) was undertaken. General opinions about the service were sought of patients, their carers, district nursing staff, general practitioners and the home care staff themselves. In addition, data on 66 patients were collected from their general practitioners, their district nursing sisters if applicable, the patients and/or their carers. The hospice records of the same patients were studied. It was possible, therefore, to collect information on specific patients from several sources, thereby constructing a complex and unique picture of their care seen from different perspectives. The data were assessed in relation to the hospice's declared aims of the home care service. The study also included analyses of ten years' records of all patients who had received home care within the hospice's outreach. Some weaknesses in communication were identified and there was a consistent plea by district nursing sisters and home care staff for earlier referral of patients. It is concluded that, on a general level, the home care service's aims were met.

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