Referral to the accident and emergency department following the use of community alarms.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the degree of appropriate referral to the accident and emergency (A&E) department following the use of a community alarm where a mobile warden works in conjunction with the community alarm control centre.


METHODS
611 consecutive calls using community alarms underwent assessment and the appropriateness of referral to the A&E department was considered.


RESULTS
Of 542 requests for help 44 patients were transported to the A&E department (8.1%). Twenty nine patients were admitted (5.3%) and 15 patients (2.8%) discharged home from the A&E department after assessment or treatment, or both. Only three patients (0.55%) had been referred to the A&E department inappropriately.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that where a mobile warden works in conjunction with the community alarm control centre the number of inappropriate referrals to the A&E department should be minimal.
Youssef
G G
GG
Accident and Emergency Department, Conquest Hospital, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.
Underhill
T J
TJ
Tovey
C
C
D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004630:Emergencies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*