The assessment of need for support services as seen by general practitioners and a geriatric population

The majority of doctors accepted the need for involvement in the management of patients with behavioural, family and welfare type problems. The health team concept was seen as desirable by a majority of respondents, though they appeared to feel that it made no great difference if the team members functioned from a health centre or were located in different sites. They were not so well informed as to the availability of supportive welfare services as they were of medical services. Of the elderly people interviewed, most had received medical care in the previous two months, and chiropody was the commonest supportive service used. About half were assessed as having at least one disability affecting their functional capacity, and a significant number were thought to be receiving inadequate care. There was an obvious need for home help services, which were in limited supply.