title: Review of a paediatric emergency department observation unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the function of an emergency department paediatric observation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective observational study reviewing the activity of the observation unit for 12 months
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 12 months, 4446 children were admitted to the observation unit and 76% were discharged home: usually within 8 hours. The average admission rate was 12 children in 24 hours. The commonest causes for children being admitted to the observation unit were respiratory problems and gastroenteritis or dehydration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The emergency paediatric observational unit was used to assess and treat children with a variety of conditions. This enabled many children to be managed in the emergency department rather than being admitted to the paediatric wards.
authors.affiliation: New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK. ianlevett@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wacogne
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies