HC Deb 23 May 1988 vol 134 c47W
Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of patient treatment in Welsh hospitals consisted of re-admission in the five years 1982 to 1987.

Mr. Grist

Information on re-admission to National Health Service hospitals and units is available only in the case of mental illness and mental handicap, for which the latest data are given in the following table:

Re-admissions as a percentage of total admissions
Year Mental illness hospitals or units Mental handicap hospitals or units
1982 66.5 90.5
1983 68.2 95.6
1984 69.3 95.7
1985 71.1 96.9
1986 73.3 98.2

Mr. John

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the statistics for hospital patient treatments in Wales includes re-admission of patients; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Grist

Statistics for in-patient treatment in National Health Service hospitals in Wales are collected upon discharge. Consequently the emphasis is on the current diagnosis and treatment and not the previous history of the patient. Data about the number of re-admissions are not collected centrally other than in the specialties of mental illness and mental handicap.

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