Too Many Old Patients In Hospitals, Says Report

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 14

Too Many Old Patients In Hospitals, Says Report

A reduction in the average stay in hospital for elderly people could be made without jeopardising medical care and, if the average hospital stay for elderly people in illnesses leading to death were reduced to equal the stay for patients who are discharged, essential medical needs should still be met while reducing the number of beds needed. These are some of the conclusions of the Director of Welfare Services <Dr. G. O. L. Dempster* and the assistant director. Division of Hospitals • Dr. I. J. Jeffery) in a special report on elderly patients in public hospitals in 1958. The report is issued as No. 4 of the Department of Health special report series. If the number of days' stay for deaths was reduced to the present figure for discharges, and the days’ stay for discharges was eut by 10 per cent.—a figure suggested by comparison with records from Denmark the hospitals would be saved the equivalent of 2021 beds at 80 per cent, occupancy, says the report.

"The medical needs of elderly persons should always be met adequately." the report says. “The point at issue is whether it is necessary to admit persons to hospital to meet those needs. and whether, after having admitted them to hospital it is necessary (not to mention desirable) to keep them there for a lengthy period. Best In Own Homes

“Elderly people are best cared for in their own homes Hospitals should be used where their use is indicated, but it is against the person's interest to make him a patient toe soon or too long. “The aspect of family strain has not been ignored, but there are more suitable places than public hospitals in which older persons can spend their

declining years. "Domiciliary services are important, in as much as they aim to preserve the older person's enjoyment of life as long as possible in the environment to which he has become accustomed. “There is no suggestion. let alone desire, that older per-

sons should suffer as a result of public hospitals being used for purposes for which they are provided.” Recommendations The doctors make several recommendations in their report. These include: (1) The place of death should be among the data made available in the vital statistics. Categories suggested are: public hospital, mental hospital, licensed hospital, private institution, private residence.

(2) The hospital record for an inpatient should show the disease accounting for the time spent in hospital as well as—if need be —the reason for which hospital admission was sought. The disease causing death should be recorded in the hospital. (3) Further studies should be made including: a clinical survey to. obtain th» best quality data relating to hospital need: a study similar to the present one, but dealing with all age-groups; repeat studies of the present one. to discover changes with time; studies based on reasons tor admission rather than subsequent diagnosis; and a study on the contribution of private hospitals.