Hospital readmissions. Return to sender

A study of elderly patients who were repeatedly readmitted to an acute hospital found many admissions could be averted by providing more intense, alternative care. Many admissions were made by on-call GPs who did not know the patients' case. Some discharges appeared to have been premature. More attention needs to be given to preventive care, and greater use made of community nurses as the focal point of a support system. The study has highlighted the need for pooled budgets between health and social services.