§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum number of days is between discharge and emergency readmission for a patient to be considered to be in the same episode of care. [84097]
§ Mr. HuttonA decision has not yet been taken on the cut-off point for the maximum length of a discharge from hospital and subsequent readmission.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis is of his calculation of the baseline figure for 2001–02 and 2002–03 emergency readmissions. [82967]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 25 November 2002]: The baseline rate for both years was calculated as the number of patients readmitted to hospital within 28 days of discharge, divided by the number discharged from hospital. The baseline is derived from the outturn figures for the previous year.
The baseline for 2001–02 was a rate of 7.3 per cent., and related to over 75s only. The 2002–03 target is for all ages, with a baseline rate of 5.4 per cent.