Avoiding hospital admissions

This paper considers the research evidence on avoiding hospital admissions, to show why it should be a priority for Poole. It highlights key issues for Poole, using data on recent trends, comparisons with national figures, information on at risk groups, and the areas affected. A future edition of this briefing paper will include evidence on long term admissions and delayed discharge. 

Key findings

Avoiding hospital admissions is an important issue for Poole because:

• rates of emergency admissions are high and increasing in Poole
  
• there are high numbers of potentially avoidable admissions
  
• there is a high and increasing older population at highest risk of emergency admissions
  
• people living in the most deprived areas are at highest risk of avoidable admissions in Poole
  
• emergency hospital admissions incur high costs and potential savings
  
• levels of day care and home support in the community are falling as budget cuts take effect
  
• reducing hospital admissions would contribute to better quality of life