Primary health care: what should we do for people dying at home with cancer?

The special needs of the dying, and in particular of people dying of cancer, have been studies extensively over the past two decades. The contribution to the debate by those working in primary care has been small. In this paper nine guidelines relevant to terminal care at home are described. They were defined and developed by a small group of primary-care nurses and general parctirioners, being based on their own professional experience of caring for people dying at home with cancer. They have subseqyently been approved by professional and lay bodies within the Exter Health District, Devon UK, and are presented for discussion.