More than 40% of A&E admissions from care homes could be avoided – freeing up 80,000 beds a year, says report
MORE than four in ten emergency hospital admissions from care homes could be avoided, an NHS study suggests.
The 41 per cent are for potentially avoidable conditions such as pressure sores and chest or urinary infections.
Health experts say these can be treated out of hospital or are the result of poor care.
NHS England is now working with care homes to cut these admissions and ease pressure on crowded A&Es.
Its researchers say eliminating the 41 per cent of needless cases could slash admissions by 78,720 a year.
NHS England’s Professor Alistair Burns said: “We are rolling out extra support to care homes to reduce unnecessary medication and strengthen the ties between GPs and care homes.”
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Ex-GP Martin Rowland said regular surgeries may get stuck with the sickest, who are more expensive.
App services tend to be used by the young. Prof Rowland said: “It’s essentially taking cash away from practices.”
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