[Visits to hospital emergency departments after restricted-admission changes at the Rigshospitalet]

The aim of this study was to describe changes in the use of accident and emergency departments in the Copenhagen Hospital Co-operation after restricted admittance to the accident and emergency department at a large Danish university hospital, Rigshospitalet (admittance only for patients transported by ambulance or presenting with a referral from a doctor).

A retrospective study compared the number of patients treated in two periods, 1.7.1998 to 30.6.1999 and 1.7.1999 to 30.6.2000. Additional patient data were collected for the periods 1.7.1998 to 31.12.1998 and 1.7.1999 to 31.12.1999.

A 4% decrease was seen in the total number of patients treated at the accident and emergency departments. The decrease in the number of patients treated at the accident and emergency department at Rigshospitalet was 69%, whereas the accident and emergency department at Bispebjerg Hospital experienced a 53% rise.

The study showed good compliance in the local population after the restricted admittance to an accident and emergency department at a large university hospital. An expected total fall in the number of patients treated at the accident and emergency departments in the Copenhagen Hospital Co-operation could not be documented.