Increase in hospital readmissions of older people

Nearly five thousand more older people are being readmitted to
hospital within 28 days of being discharged than they were two
years ago, according to new figures.

Research from Liberal Democrat spokesperson for older people
Paul Burstow shows that there has been an 18 per cent increase over
the last two years in the number of older people being readmitted
to hospital less than 28 days after being discharged.

Taken from parliamentary answers, the figures show that the
number of over 75s readmitted to hospital within 28 days increased
from 26,523 between October and December 1999 to 31,427 in the same
period in 2001.

“The NHS and social services are under increasing pressure to
get people out of hospital quicker and quicker,” said Burstow. “The
consequences are poor discharge planning and a rapid rise in the
number of people returning to hospital as emergencies within days
of leaving hospital.”