TY - JOUR

T1 - An evaluation of the Macmillan GP clinical facilitator project : the post-holders' perspective.

AU - Ingleton, Christine

AU - Hughes, Philippa

AU - Noble, Bill

AU - Gray, Hermina M.

AU - Clark, David

N1 - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PHC The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Primary Health Care Research & Development, 4 (2), pp 177-186 2003, © 2003 Cambridge University Press.

PY - 2003/3

Y1 - 2003/3

N2 - There is evidence to suggest that GPs experience significant difficulties associated with lack of support from, and communication with, hospital and other specialists in palliative care. The establishment of cancer and palliative care facilitator schemes by Macmillan Cancer Relief reflects these current concerns very clearly. This paper presents some of the findings from the first phase of an evaluation of one such GP facilitator scheme in the Welsh county of Powys. It examines the perceptions and expectations of GP facilitator post-holders during the first year of the facilitator scheme, based upon data gathered from qualitive interviews conducted on three separate occasions. The picture that emerges from the first year of this facilitator project is broadly a positive one. Facilitators have tailored their roles to fit in with and augment the practices with which they deal. Attitudes vary, but their goals of facilitation and education appear similar. Themain challenges facing post-holders is that of being aware of the possible existence of professional rivalries whilst developing their role in ways which do not encroach upon the territories of long-established colleagues.

AB - There is evidence to suggest that GPs experience significant difficulties associated with lack of support from, and communication with, hospital and other specialists in palliative care. The establishment of cancer and palliative care facilitator schemes by Macmillan Cancer Relief reflects these current concerns very clearly. This paper presents some of the findings from the first phase of an evaluation of one such GP facilitator scheme in the Welsh county of Powys. It examines the perceptions and expectations of GP facilitator post-holders during the first year of the facilitator scheme, based upon data gathered from qualitive interviews conducted on three separate occasions. The picture that emerges from the first year of this facilitator project is broadly a positive one. Facilitators have tailored their roles to fit in with and augment the practices with which they deal. Attitudes vary, but their goals of facilitation and education appear similar. Themain challenges facing post-holders is that of being aware of the possible existence of professional rivalries whilst developing their role in ways which do not encroach upon the territories of long-established colleagues.

KW - general practitioners

KW - GP clinical facilitators

KW - models of facilitation

KW - end-of-life care

KW - formative evaluation

KW - rural palliative care.

U2 - 10.1191/1463423603pc147oa

DO - 10.1191/1463423603pc147oa

M3 - Journal article

VL - 4

SP - 177

EP - 186

JO - Primary Health Care Research and Development

JF - Primary Health Care Research and Development

SN - 1463-4236

IS - 2

ER -