title: Planning for the future: the experience of implementing a children's day assessment unit in a district general hospital.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, York District Hospital.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Beverley
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harran
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Durrans
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durack
mesh_terms: 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