Living with nuclear power: A Q-method study of local community perceptions.

The issue of new nuclear power is once again high up on the public policy agenda in many countries, and candidate sites for new civilian stations are likely to include those that have existing nuclear facilities. A common assumption is that existing nuclear communities will be more accepting of new build because of the direct economic and other benefits nuclear power already makes to a local area. Surprisingly, there is a dearth of contemporary data on perceptions of the risks, benefits, and values associated with nuclear power within such communities.

Standards of care in day hospitals and day centres: a comparison of services for older people with dementia.

Background: Current policy in England emphasises the importance of caring for highly dependent older people for as long as possible at home. It is therefore crucial that day care services are effective and widely available.

Aim: To compare the type and standard of care provided for older people with dementia in day centre and day hospital settings.

Variations in care management arrangements for people with mental health problems in England.

Since 1989, government policy in the United Kingdom has advocated that social services providers develop care management systems in order to deliver coordinated and individually tailored packages of care to all user groups. This cross-sectional postal survey describes national variations in care management arrangements for people with mental health problems in England on 14 key indicators developed from previous research. One hundred and one social services providers (response rate: 77%) completed two questionnaires: The first related to care management arrangements for all user groups, and the second related specifically to arrangements for people with mental health problems.

Integrated specialist assessment of older people and predictors of care-home admission.

Background: Effective community-based care for older people requires the integration of assessment approaches by old age psychiatry, geriatric medicine and social services care management. This study examines the value of such collaboration in the assessment of older people at risk of entering care homes.

Method: A randomized controlled trial of integrated assessment (care management with additional clinical assessment by old age psychiatrist or geriatrician) versus care management assessment only, for older people at risk of care-home admission.

Levels of integration and specialisation within professional community teams for people with dementia.

Background: Delivering integrated and specialist mental health services for the growing population of older people with dementia in Britain is a key concern of the present government.

Aims: To consider the nature of current practice among multi-disciplinary and single discipline health and social care teams providing a service to people with dementia and compare the quality of service offered.

Methods: A postal survey of professional community teams in North West England, providing services to people with dementia.

The value of specialist clinical assessment of older people prior to entry to care homes.

Objective: to ascertain the value of employing a specialist clinician's contribution to the assessment of older people prior to care home entry.

Design: randomised controlled trial.

Method: 256 older people at risk of care home entry were randomly allocated to either a control group, who received the usual care management assessment, or to an experimental group who, in addition, received a clinical assessment by a geriatrician or old age psychiatrist.