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People not overusing A&E – findings People not overusing A&E – findings
(4 months later)
One in seven people who attend A&E could be dealt with by a GP but the rest are justified in going to an NHS emergency department, new research suggests.One in seven people who attend A&E could be dealt with by a GP but the rest are justified in going to an NHS emergency department, new research suggests.
The College of Emergency Medicine found that 15% of people who The College of Emergency Medicine found that 15% of people who attended A&E departments could be treated in the community rather than as an emergency case in hospital.
attended A&E departments could be treated in the community rather than "[But] the fact that only 15% of attendees at emergency departments could be safely redirected to a primary care clinician without the need for emergency department assessment is a statistic that must be heeded by those who wish to reconfigure services," said Dr Clifford Mann, president of the college.
as an emergency case in hospital.
"[But] the fact that only 15% of attendees at emergency departments could
be safely redirected to a primary care clinician without the need for
emergency department assessment is a statistic that must be heeded by
those who wish to reconfigure services," said Dr Clifford Mann,
president of the college.
The figure equated to 2.1 million patients who come through the doors of emergency departments every year, the college spokesman said. Children with minor illnesses were among them.The figure equated to 2.1 million patients who come through the doors of emergency departments every year, the college spokesman said. Children with minor illnesses were among them.
The finding prompted the college to renew its calls for the establishment of GP centres within emergency departments. The finding prompted the college to renew its calls for the establishment of GP centres within emergency departments.
The college argues that emergency health services are facing a shortage in The college argues that emergency health services are facing a shortage in specialist doctors, rising numbers of people attending centres and a lack of accessible and effective alternatives to A&E.
specialist doctors, rising numbers of people attending centres and a "Providing a more appropriate resource for the 2.1 million patients represented by this figure would substantially decongest emergency departments," said Mann.
lack of accessible and effective alternatives to A&E. "Decongesting emergency departments is key to relieving the unprecedented levels of pressure placed upon them and improving patient care."
"Providing a more appropriate resource for the 2.1 million patients Seperately, Sky News said a freedom of information request had revealed that hundreds of thousands of patients were being sent home from hospital in the middle of the night, despite a promise to cut down on the practice.
represented by this figure would substantially decongest emergency More than 300,000 people had been discharged from hospitals between 11pm and 6am since 2012, an average of 400 a night. Many of them were elderly, giving rise to concerns that vulnerable people may be unsafe or struggle to get home at unsociable hours.
departments," said Mann. The figures, uncovered through Freedom of Information requests by Sky News, revealed that in almost half of cases the proportion of patients discharged overnight also increased.
"Decongesting emergency departments is key to relieving the
unprecedented levels of pressure placed upon them and improving patient
care."
Seperately, Sky News said a freedom of information request had revealed that hundreds of thousands of patients were being sent home from hospital in
the middle of the night, despite a promise to cut down on the practice.
More than 300,000 people had been discharged from hospitals between 11pm and 6am since 2012, an average of 400 a night. Many of them were elderly, giving rise to concerns that vulnerable
people may be unsafe or struggle to get home at unsociable hours.
The figures, uncovered through Freedom of Information requests by
Sky News, revealed that in almost half of cases the proportion of
patients discharged overnight also increased.
The NHS has in the past been accused of persisting in the widespread practice to help free up beds for other patients.The NHS has in the past been accused of persisting in the widespread practice to help free up beds for other patients.
In 2012 Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England's medical director, called on In 2012 Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England's medical director, called on hospitals to reduce the number of patients being discharged overnight. "It is simply not fair to be sending people home late at night. We will look at this."
hospitals to reduce the number of patients being discharged overnight. Dr Mike Smith, chairman of the Patients Association, told Sky News: "They have got people in A&E chomping at the bit, lying in corridors, they have got to be admitted and they have no beds.
"It is simply not fair to be sending people home late at night. We will look at this." "It's for the convenience of staff and the person they are admitting but at the gross detriment to the person they are chucking out."
Dr Mike Smith, chairman of the Patients Association, told Sky News: A spokesman for NHS England told Sky News: "Discharging patients at night without appropriate support is unacceptable, particularly if a patient is vulnerable."
"They have got people in A&E chomping at the bit, lying in Jamie Reed MP, Labour's shadow health minister, criticised the prevalence of the issue. "Hospitals are operating above safe levels. Ministers promised to put an end to this practice two years ago but it's getting worse. It's further proof you can't trust the Tories with the NHS."
corridors, they have got to be admitted and they have no beds.
"It's for the convenience of staff and the person they are admitting
but at the gross detriment to the person they are chucking out."
A spokesman for NHS England told Sky News: "Discharging patients at
night without appropriate support is unacceptable, particularly if a
patient is vulnerable."
Jamie Reed MP, Labour's shadow health minister, criticised the prevalence of the issue.
"Hospitals are operating above safe levels. Ministers
promised to put an end to this practice two years ago but it's getting
worse. It's further proof you can't trust the Tories with the NHS."