Inpatient costs and paramilitary punishment beatings in northern Ireland.
BACKGROUND
Paramilitary punishment beatings are a common occurrence in Northern Ireland. Little is known about the costs such attacks impose on the health service.


METHODS
Data was collected retrospectively on victims treated by Northern Ireland's regional specialist orthopaedics unit. Data related to all victims treated in the unit between January 1999 and May 2000.


RESULTS
Average inpatient care costs were 2010 Pounds ($2914). There was no significant difference in these between patients who were shot and those who were beaten.


CONCLUSIONS
Punishment beatings present a small but significant cost burden to the health service. A fuller understanding of them from a health care perspective is warranted.
O'Neill
C
C
School of Public Policy, Economics and Law, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, Northern Ireland. c.oneill2@ulst.ac.uk
Durkin
P
P
Mcalister
D
D
Dogra
A S
AS
McAnespie
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009660:Northern Ireland; D011678:Punishment; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics*