Terminal care: the role of the general practitioner hospital.

A survey of all deaths occurring over a two-year period in a group practice population was carried out to assess the contribution of the local general practitioner hospital to terminal care overall. With the availability of the hospital, the general practitioners were able to provide a higher proportion of terminal care for their patients than in areas where general practitioners did not have access to hospital beds. This was particularly so in terminal care for patients dying of cancer.