Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 6 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 February 2003. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 February 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place a copy of the most recent Q3 delayed discharge and emergency readmission figures in the Library; what assessment he has made of the information collected; and how many times the way the information is collated has been altered in the last five years. (Tables in Library Dep 03/545). - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the most recent Quarter 3 delayed discharge and emergency readmission figures in the Library; what assessment he has made of the information collected; and how many times the way the information is collated has been altered in the last five years. [97079] Jacqui Smith: The information on Quarter 3, 2002-03, delayed discharge and emergency readmission figures has been placed in the Library. Between September 2001 and December 2002, more than 2,000 fewer people were waiting to be discharged from hospital on any single day. The rate of 28-day emergency readmission for patients of all ages has increased very slightly over last quarter from 5.35 to 5.4 per cent. In the last five years, the basis of the information collection has changed to patients of all ages, rather than only patients over 75 years, and from April 2002, the data have been collected by primary care trust area instead of the former health authorities.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 97079; 400 c620-1W;400 c612-3W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Admissions Discharges Hospitals Hospital beds Patients Statistics Waiting lists
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk