Geriatric day hospitals: practice and planning

A study of 1026 day-hospital patients who attended the three geriatric day hospitals in East Kent in the year 1971-2 showed similar results to those obtained from previous studies with regard to age and sex of attenders, diagnoses and average length of attendance. Day-hospital practice was viewed within the context of the other essential services provided for the elderly in this retirement area. The lack of day centres and psychogeriatric day hospitals and its effects on day-hospital practice are discussed with reference to the low NPI (new patient index) figures in the three units. Each area's yearly referrals are related to its resident elderly population and vary from 3-15 patients per 1000 (average 7.7 patients). Since an average patient attends for three months or more, something between 1 and 2 places per 1000 elderly would be required if they attended two days a week, and up to 3 places per 1000 elderly if they attended three days a week. This result suggests that the national guide-line of 2 places per 1000 elderly may be sufficient to meet present local referrals; though it cannot be assumed that it measures need.