Wilson I M, Bunting J S, Curnow R N, Knock J
Statistical Services Centre, University of Reading, UK.
Palliat Med. 1995 Jan;9(1):13-8. doi: 10.1177/026921639500900103.
Inpatient facilities in palliative care units are generally considered to be mainly for cancer patients. We present and discuss the results of a survey that attempted to estimate the number of noncancer patients requiring inpatient palliative care. Questionnaires sent to all general practices in the Thames Valley area asked about the diagnosis and the number of bed-days that would have been required for each noncancer patient in the practice dying in the last year or still in their care. The replies suggest that about 11 noncancer patients per practice per year were in need of respite or continuing care. For the Thames Valley area this would amount to at least 66,000 bed-days per year for noncancer patients, compared with the current provision, mainly for cancer patients, of about 40,000 bed-days per year. The diagnoses involved and the reasons why our figures may overestimate need, are discussed. There can be no doubt that, if the need is to be met, current facilities will be inadequate and additional beds and services will be required.
姑息治疗病房的住院设施一般被认为主要是为癌症患者准备的。我们展示并讨论了一项调查的结果，该调查试图估算需要住院姑息治疗的非癌症患者数量。向泰晤士河谷地区所有普通诊所发放的问卷询问了诊断情况以及每个在过去一年中去世或仍在其照料下的非癌症患者所需的住院天数。答复表明，每个诊所每年约有11名非癌症患者需要临时照料或持续护理。对于泰晤士河谷地区而言，这意味着非癌症患者每年至少需要66000个住院日，相比之下，目前主要为癌症患者提供的住院日约为每年40000个。文中讨论了所涉及的诊断情况以及我们的数据可能高估需求的原因。毫无疑问，如果要满足需求，当前的设施将不足，需要增加床位和服务。
