Social and clinical correlates of the "new" long-stay

Out of a total admission cohort of 1,934 patients 162 and 101 patients remained continuously in hospital for 6 months and 1 year respectively. The study describes the characteristics of these patients and at each stage compares them with those who were discharged on a number of social and clinical variables. The findings confirm the importance of social factors in determining continued retention and support the suggestion of a process of early selection of "new" long-stay patients put forward by Mann & Sproule (1972). The findings are discussed and a case is argued in favour of continuing to provide such patients in hospital.