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

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.