Home care for life-supported persons in England. The Responaut Program.

Home care for persons who depend upon life-supportive technology represents a complex situation for analysis and planning. As a case-example, the ventilator-dependent patient illustrates a formidable health care challenge for all sectors of society. England provides an established model for study. The "Responaut Program" (London) is a hospital-based home ventilator care system of services established in 1965 at St. Thomas' Hospital by Dr. G. Spencer. The elements of success of the English program presented herein are applicable to some of the current political, social, and economic realities of the United States. Operational home care concepts abroad are available for scrutiny as we in the United States plan pioneering efforts in this field.