Diversity in intermediate care.
This paper discusses the evolution of intermediate care (IC) and presents interim observations from a survey of providers in England being conducted as part of a national evaluation. Telephone interviews covering various issues concerning the level of provision and style of delivery have been conducted with 70 services to date. Data from these are used to discuss the progress, range and nature of IC in relation to clinician viewpoints and academic and official literature on the subject. IC 'on the ground' is a multiplicitous entity, with provision apparently evolving in accordance with the particularities of local need. While protocols for medical involvement in IC generally appear to be well established, there are some tensions concerning integration of services in a locality, care management processes and questions of flexibility and inclusiveness in relation to eligibility criteria.
Nuffield Community Care Studies Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK. gpm7@le.ac.uk
Graham Paul
GP
Martin
Susan Margaret
SM
Peet
Graham John
GJ
Hewitt
Hilda
H
Parker
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom