Same experience here Adrian, though not to the same degree [yet]. It seems
the most likely explanation is that we've become victims of our own success
on the "minors" side - very few long waits attracting more and more patients
who would otherwise have contacted their GP or sometimes done nothing at
all!
A&E attendences reduced by 20% over the next 2 years? More chance of Danny
taking an academic A&E chair!
Best wishes, Bill [not as bitter & twisted as during my last posting!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adrian Fogarty" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Bill Bailey" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 9:35 AM
Subject: Rising attendances
> Has anyone else experienced this in their departments recently? Our unit
has
> seen a 13% rise in new patient attendances over the last year, and we
can't
> explain why exactly. The rise is slightly more from non-ambulance patients
> and non-admitted patients, i.e. group 1 and group 2 patients, roughly, to
> use collaborative vernacular.
>
> George Alberti has stated in the EMJ supplement that he aims to cut
> attendances by 20% over the next 2 years. I find that hard to believe.
> Personally, I believe patients are starting to actively choose to use A&E
> departments now - rather than their GPs - as they're virtually guaranteed
a
> wait of no more than four hours. Things will only get worse in December
when
> the GPs opt out (of OOH care).
>
> So while some of Alberti's schemes may produce benefits, they'll be
> outweighed by many other factors, I fear. NHS Direct, for example, hasn't
> cut attendances at all and has probably put them up in some areas, I
> suspect.
>
> Adrian Fogarty
>
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