Increase in older people readmissions

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