Repeat A&E attendees may account for almost one in seven emergency hospital visits, a new study suggests.
Researchers conducted a study on frequent visitors to emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people, who are often elderly, “are always not met.”
Experts from the British Red Cross examined data on emergency attendance in Dorset. They found that about 1.7 percent of the entire county population accounts for 13.8 percent of A&E attendances.
Doctors are more likely to classify visits as urgent, according to the report, and these people are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Two groups were more likely to be repeat visitors: the first were over 70 years old with two or more long-term conditions, and almost half were nearing the end of their lives.
The second group is between 20 and 49 years old, with slightly more women than men, with mental health problems.
Both groups were more likely to arrive at A&E by ambulance and both attended their GPs more frequently in the month before attending A&E, the report said.
Many people are repeatedly visiting emergency departments across the country due to unresolved medical problems and other unmet non-clinical needs, the British Red Cross said.
Many people repeatedly visit emergency departments across the country due to unresolved medical problems and other unmet non-clinical needs.
Researchers conducted a review of frequent visitors to emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people, who are often older people, “are consistently not met.”
The charity has made a number of recommendations, including creating more dedicated, high-intensity use of emergency services.
“Every year, millions of people go to A&E when they have an accident or desperately need care, but some people have to go more than others,” said Beatrice Butsana-Sita, the charity’s chief executive.
‘There are many reasons that can contribute to this and for these people it is very distressing. It’s a situation any of us could find ourselves in.
‘Our research found that almost one in seven A&E visits in Dorset came from less than 2 per cent of the county’s population.
“These people needed help and were much more likely to be classified as urgent cases or need hospital admission.”
He said Red Cross teams regularly see people facing a range of issues, from isolation to inadequate housing, which can affect health and well-being.
“As the Government embarks on developing a new plan to transform the NHS, this research adds greater urgency to the need to tackle the underlying causes of poor health, draw on vital community services and more dedicated and dedicated use of high intensity of emergency services,” said Ms. Butsana. -Sita added.
“This will help ensure the right services are in place to compassionately support people when they need it most, before they reach crisis point.”