The role of specialist home care teams: views of general practitioners in south London

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Abstract
This study aimed to assess south London general practitioners' views on the role of specialist home care teams and their working patterns, particularly involvement in out-of-hours care. In February 1992, postal questionnaires were sent to the 705 general practitioners working in three adjacent FHSA areas. The response rate was 79%. There was approval of the teams' current role and of extending this to include patients with nonmalignant disease. Most thought a 24-hour on-call and visiting service desirable, and wanted to share out-of-hours care with the teams. The implications of changing and extending the role of specialist teams and the issue of providing adequate out-of-hours care for patients wishing to remain at home are discussed.