§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much support the Department of Social Services is providing for the study in terminal care on the nature and size of the problem of home care for the dying; by whom and at what costs needs are being met; what is the nature and extent of unmet need; by whom such study is being carried out; and what area of Great Britain is covered thereby;
(2) what support his Department is providing for the inquiry into experimental domiciliary services, service for patients in the terminal stage of illness and its evaluation; by whom such study is being carried out; and what area of Great Britain is covered thereby;
(3) where and when conferences will be held to discuss the results of the inquiry into experimental domiciliary service for patients in the terminal stages of illness; by whom an article is expected to be submitted for publication in respect thereof; to whom; and when in 1972 it is expected that such article will be presented.
§ Sir K. JosephThe study in the problems of home care for the dying being carried out by Dr. Ann Cartwright at the Institute of Social Studies in Medical Care is supported by my Department at a cost of £23,000. The work has been carried out in 12 regions of England and Wales and is based on a random sample, of some 800 deaths registered during the last six months of 1969.
The evaluation of an experimental domiciliary service for patients in the terminal stages of illness is being undertaken by Dr. Cicely Saunders as part of a programme of work associated with the out-patient clinic at St. Christopher's Hospice and is supported by my Department at a cost of about £5,500 per annum. The service covers patients normally resident in the eight boroughs surrounding St. Christopher's.
Publication of results is a matter for the research workers. A report on the work at St. Christopher's Hospice was made to the joint conference "Partners in Care" organised by the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing on 26th November, 1971. An 222W article appears in the American Journal of Nursing, December, 1971.
I am sending the hon. and learned Member a copy of my Department's current programme in health services research.