title: The floating-bed.
abstract: The classical concept of hospital care has gross limitations. Specialist consultation is episodic; hospitalisation has rigid admission and discharge policies. Floating-bed admission for 2 nights every 2 weeks provides an additional service which reduces the number of beds necessary for the elderly and should be able to contain the rapid increase in demand occasioned by the rising number of elderly patients, particularly those over the age of 75 years.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001509:Bed Occupancy; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care; D004739:England; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013997:Time Factors