Managing diarrhoea in the home to prevent admission

Many people with long term conditions wish to receive care at home or in the nursing home where they live. Sometimes if a person develops diarrhoea the clinician's first instinct is to transfer the person to hospital. The person who has severe diarrhoea may need hospitalisation, however many people, especially those who have indicated that their preferred place of care is home rather than hospital, can be managed effectively at home. Enabling the person to remain at home whenever possible empowers the person and enables carers, community nursing staff and nursing home staff to provide the best possible level of care.