The Western Domiciliary Care Service: a report on the development and activities of a home care scheme associated with a teaching hospital.

This article reports the development and first five years experience of the Western Domiciliary Care Service, Adelaide, South Australia. This service began accepting referrals in July 1971. Referrals are accepted without regard to age or degree of disability. Assessments are made in the patients' homes by social workers and therapists, who maintain close contact with the general practitioners. Liaison with The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has been a tremendous advantage. Of the 1,800 active patients, about 700 would be in nursing homes if this service did not exist, and many referrals to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been avoided. The scheme has proved very economical.