| Abstract: | ![]()
Data were collected on inpatients admitted to one psychogeriatric unit in the Newcastle upon Tyne area, in the first 6 months of 1985, 1988 and 1991—a period which saw substantial reductions in the number of long-term elderly care bed numbers in the statutory sector. Admissions to the unit increased by almost 50% over the 6 years while mean length of stay decreased from 12.4 to 9.4 weeks. Between 1988 and 1991 discharges into private sector care increased considerably with no evidence that this group differed in any way from those patients discharged into statutory care in terms of level of dependency or presence of behavioural problems. Patients with high dependency needs or behaviour problems which were difficult to manage tended to stay in hospital for much longer periods, possibly indicating a shortfall of suitable long-stay facilities for this patient group. |
