Hospital at home

True domiciliary health care services are not fully developed yet in Britain. The limited reports from this country and more extensive ones from abroad, indicate the potential of such schemes. The Peterborough Hospital at Home scheme (HAH) has been operating for 10 years and provides a valuable model for the development of a home care service. It has proved of particular value in a variety of patient groups. Terminally ill patients, those discharged early after operation, the elderly and children; all have derived benefits from home care. However, for a service to function efficiently, it must be of sufficient size, be fully integrated and organisationally responsive to changing needs and professional roles.