News

More older people are being readmitted to hospital after being discharged, according to government figures.

Statistics for the first quarter of 2002-03 show that eight per cent of people aged 75 and over who were discharged from hospital, were readmitted as an emergency within 28 days, with 3.2 per cent readmitted as an emergency within 7 days.

These percentages have gone up from 7.3 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively for the same period last year.

But the figures indicate that fewer older people are having their hospital discharge delayed – 8.3 per cent compared to 11.1 per cent last year.

http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsquarterlyreview/patientstreatedexperience.htm