BMJ : British medical journal
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To investigate the current problems and needs of terminally ill cancer patients and their family members, and to discover their views of hospital, community, and support team services. ⋯ Palliative care needs to include both the patient and family because the needs of the family may exceed those of the patient. Support teams and some hospital and community doctors and nurses met the perceived needs of dying patients and families, but better education and organisation of services are needed.
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Comparative Study
Relation between general practices' outpatient referral rates and rates of elective admission to hospital.
To examine the variation in rates of admission to hospital among general practices, to determine the relation between referral rates and admission rates, and to assess the extent to which variations in outpatient referral rates might account for the different patterns of admission. ⋯ Rates of elective admission to hospital vary systematically among general practices. Variations in outpatient referral rates are an important determinant of variations in admission rates.