Repeat attenders at A&E can account for almost one in seven emergency visits to hospital, a new study suggests.
Researchers carried out a review into frequent visitors in emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people – who are often elderly – are ‘consistently not being met’.
Experts from the British Red Cross examined data on A&E attendances in Dorset. They found that around 1.7 per cent of the county’s entire population accounts for 13.8 per cent of A&E attendances.
The visits are more likely to be classed as urgent by doctors, the report found, and these people are more likely to live in deprived neighbourhoods.Â
Two groups were more likely to be repeat visitors – the first being over-70s with two or more long-term conditions, with nearly half nearing the end of their lives.
The second group are aged 20 to 49, with slightly more women than men, with ill mental health.
Both groups are more likely to arrive at A&E via ambulance and both attended GPs more frequently in the month before their A&E attendance, the report found.
Many people are making repeat visits to emergency departments across the country because of unresolved medical issues and other unmet non-clinical needs, the British Red Cross said.
Many people are making repeat visits to emergency departments across the country because of unresolved medical issues and other unmet non-clinical needs
Researchers carried out a review into frequent visitors in emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people – who are often elderly – are ‘consistently not being met’
The charity has made a series of recommendations, including the creation of more dedicated high intensity use of A&E services.
‘Every year millions of people go to A&E when they have an accident or are in desperate need of care, but some people have to attend more than others,’ Beatrice Butsana-Sita, the charity’s chief executive, said.
‘There are many reasons that can contribute to this and for those individuals, it is very distressing. It is a situation any of us could find ourselves in.
‘Our research found almost one in seven A&E attendances in Dorset were from less than 2 per cent of the county’s population.
‘Those people needed help and were far more likely to be classed as urgent cases or need hospital admission.’
She said Red Cross teams regularly see people facing a range of issues, from isolation to inadequate housing, that can impact health and wellbeing.
‘As the Government embarks on the development of a new plan to transform the NHS, this research provides further urgency for the need to tackle underlying causes of ill health, resource vital community services and more dedicated high intensity use of A&E services,’ Ms Butsana-Sita added.
‘This will help make sure the right services are in place to support people with compassion when they need it most before they reach crisis point.’
