Aim
This study aims to understand why emergency hospital admission rates vary across different parts of the country and to identify admissions that may have been avoidable if alternative care or support had been available.
Background
Emergency admissions occur when people need to be admitted to hospital unexpectedly and often at short notice. These admissions place significant pressure on NHS services and can be disruptive and stressful for patients and their families.
Some hospital admissions may be preventable if people receive the right care at the right time in the community, such as through primary care, community services, or other support closer to home. However, admission rates vary widely across the country, with some areas experiencing much higher rates than others.
Understanding why these differences exist is important. It could help improve patient care, reduce pressure on hospitals, and address health inequalities, particularly in more deprived communities where emergency admissions are often more common.
Research
This project will use healthcare data to better understand why people are admitted to hospital as an emergency and to identify situations where admission may potentially have been avoided.
Current hospital data does not always provide enough detail about the reasons for admission, making it difficult to understand where improvements could be made. By analysing patterns in admissions across different regions and patient groups, researchers will develop and test ways of identifying potentially avoidable admissions.
The findings will help improve understanding of the factors that contribute to emergency admissions and could support the development of services that allow more patients to receive appropriate care outside hospital when it is safe to do so.
Patient and Public Involvement
Patients, carers and members of the public have been involved in discussions about this research from an early stage. They highlighted the importance of understanding why some hospital admissions may be avoidable and how better community-based care could help people stay well and receive treatment closer to home.
Feedback on the project has been positive and supportive. A group of patients and public contributors will continue to work with the research team throughout the project, helping to shape the research and share the findings with the wider public.
Approval
This project was unanimously supported by the PIONEER Data Trust Committee.
Project Lead
Dr Vinay Reddy-Kolanu, Consultant Physician in Acute Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
