Shifting care: GP opinions of hospital at home

Hospital at home (HaH) has become an increasingly popular model of care over the past few years. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this is a superior form of care when compared with standard inpatient care in terms of cost, satisfaction, or clinical outcomes. Despite concerns that these schemes increase general practitioner (GP) workload, there is also no published evidence on the effect of HaH on GPs. As part of a broader study, a survey was undertaken of all GPs in an inner London health authority for their views of HaH. Overall, GPs felt that such schemes increased their workload, but GPs who had used HaH were more strongly in favour of these schemes for a range of conditions.