How and why do GPs use specialist palliative care services?
Shipman C; Addington-Hall J; Barclay S; Briggs J; Cox I; Daniels L; Millar D Department of Palliative Care and Policy, Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medicine, King’s College London, UK. This study presents findings on the interaction of generalists and specialists within palliative care. General practitioners (GPs) are central to community palliative care as most of the last year of a patient’s life is spent at home under the care of the primary health care team. GPs see few palliative care patients each year, however, and access to specialist palliative care services for support, advice and referral can be important particularly to support patients who wish to die at home. The aim of this study was to explore GP use of and attitudes towards specialist palliative care services through semi-structured interviews in inner city, urban and rural areas. It was part of a longitudinal evaluation of an educational intervention, and the quantitative components are reported elsewhere. S
