Unscheduled return visits by patients to the accident and emergency department.
To determine why patients reattend an A&E department we surveyed 235 patients who returned unscheduled in a one-month period. Sixty-two per cent returned because of persistent symptoms. Sixty-three per cent presented within a week of their initial visit. Only 32% had attempted to see their GP. Thirty-five per cent of all patients claimed that A&E staff had advised them to return if they had problems. Half of the patients did not require treatment and 61% were discharged home. Twenty-one patients had pathology that had been missed on their first visit. Better patient education may minimize misuse of the service allowing better care for those who need it.
O'Dwyer
F
F
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, Leicester Royal Infirmary, England.
Bodiwala
G G
GG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires