title: Understanding care closer to home for ill children and young people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gather evidence to support the implementation of standard six of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills 2004), which states that care should be provided as close to home as possible.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed methods study comprising of a systematic review, a national survey of provision of care closer to home (CCTH), four in-depth, qualitative case studies and a cost analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The systematic review suggests that CCTH is no less clinically effective than hospital care. Services identified by the survey fall into three distinct models of provision. Case study data show that families preferred CCTH, but staff face difficulties at organisational and practice levels. Cost analysis suggests there can be cost savings with CCTH, but several factors influence these.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCTH may be an effective and feasible option for children and young people who are ill.
authors: Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of York. gemma.spiers@york.ac.uk
authors: Gemma
authors: G
authors: Spiers
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Gridley
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Cusworth
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Mukherjee
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Parker
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Heaton
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Atkin
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Birks
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Lowson
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Wright
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D006113:United Kingdom