AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE CHANGING HEALTH OF A HOSPICE POPULATION 1978-89

This study explores the changing characteristics of patients admitted to Sir Michael Sobell House, Oxford, between 1978-89. These dates repr esent the period between the first available records and the first com puterized records. Analysis is between these dales and has been undert aken to enable future comparison between the early life of the unit wi th more recent developments. Using secondary sources the following are as were compared statistically: information related to general charact eristics such as sex and age; information related to referral such as the number of referrals; diagnosis on referral and reasons for referra l; information related to problems presented and place of death. Signi ficant findings included an increase in referrals and patient survival , an increase in patients dying at home; a decrease in symptoms presen ted on referral and fewer referrals for terminal care; and an increase in referral for rehabilitation, assessment and support. Reasons for t hese changes are suggested.