PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES - WHAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT

A survey of all district health authorities in England was conducted i n order to describe current patterns of needs assessment and contract setting for palliative care services, Outcome measures included the co mpletion of needs assessments in the past five years, the type of data used for needs assessment, and recommendations for service developmen t, Copies of contracts for palliative care services were requested and analysed according to duration of contract, and audit requirements. A 74% response rate was achieved. Over half the health authorities had not carried out a needs assessment or service review of palliative car e services in the past five years. Of those that had undertaken needs assessment, about one-quarter were planning more review work, and most of the reports expressed the need for more information on many aspect s of palliative care. Copies of contracts with specialist palliative c are providers were supplied by 38 health authorities, with the majorit y being of only one year's duration. Although conducted within an Engl ish context, the study findings have wider implications for the proces s of effective health care purchasing.