Planning for the future: the experience of implementing a children's day assessment unit in a district general hospital.
A paediatric day assessment unit was opened in May 1995. An audit of the first year's activity showed that, despite an increase in emergency admissions of 8.4%, the number of children admitted as an emergency overnight was reduced by 3% in paediatrics and 7.2% in surgery. In the first year, 1731 children were assessed as an emergency of whom 658 did not require admission to the inpatient ward. Midnight occupancy fell 17.7% in paediatrics and 25.4% in surgery. The nurse staffing costs fell over Pounds 32,000 in the first year. No adverse events occurred during the first year of operation; this type of facility could lead to a more efficient use of resources in any children's unit.
Beverley
D W
DW
Department of Paediatrics, York District Hospital.
Ball
R J
RJ
Smith
R A
RA
Harran
M J
MJ
Durrans
G M
GM
Keenan
S
S
Smith
J
J
Durack
B
B
D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008485:Medical Audit; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons