This book has been inspired in particular by several previous areas of research
in which one or the other of the authors has worked. These included a study
into the relatively recent creation and development of the new specialty of
intensive therapy, as seen from the high-profile, technological end of the
medical and nursing institutional spectrum.1 This begged a question: What
was happening at the other, essentially generalist and low-profile, domiciliary
end of that spectrum that is arguably the oldest and most firmly established,
professionally?