Out-of-hours palliative care provided by GP co-operatives in the Netherlands: a focus group study

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Primary Care Organization
• General Practice

Background:

• Out-of-hours primary care in the Netherlands has shifted from small on-call groups to large GP co-operatives.
• Concerns exist regarding the quality of out-of-hours palliative care within these co-operatives.
• UK studies indicate poor information transfer for terminally ill patients, leading to inadequate care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Dutch GPs' experiences with the quality of out-of-hours palliative care provided by GP co-operatives.
• To identify areas for improvement in out-of-hours palliative care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing three focus group discussions.
• Analysis conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach.
• Setting: General practice in the Netherlands.

Main Results:

• GPs perceived the out-of-hours palliative care provided by GP co-operatives as meager.
• Co-operative services are structured for acute issues, not palliative care needs.
• Three primary problems identified: inadequate information, lack of anticipatory care, and absence of a palliative care policy.

Conclusions:

• GP co-operatives have the potential to ensure continuity in palliative care.
• Addressing information deficits, enhancing anticipatory care, and developing clear policies are crucial for improvement.
• Collaboration between GPs and co-operatives is essential for optimizing palliative care.