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Emergency readmissions published for first time in five years

New experimental statistics [1] have been released by NHS Digital, showing emergency readmissions for hospitals in England between 2013/14 and 2017/18.

These figures show that emergency readmissions nationally have increased by 1.3 percentage points from 12.5% in 2013/14 to 13.8% in 2017/18.  These are based on ordinary general hospital admissions with cancer and obstetrics spells excluded.

The data also shows that emergency readmissions range from 14.9% in the most deprived areas to 12.7% in the least deprived areas [2].

The new data [3] can be found in the CCG Outcomes Indicator Set  and the NHS Outcomes Framework and show the percentage of emergency readmissions within 30 days of discharge from hospital, including breakdowns by Clinical Commissioning Group, deprivation quintile and gender.

This latest release of readmissions data is classed as experimental, to provide information on emergency readmissions whilst the indicators undergo further development work.

The national data in this indicator is available for comparisons over time [4].  The other geographical breakdowns can be used to compare across the country for any given year, but not over time. 

This is because the regional and local readmission indicators are indirectly standardised by age, gender, method of admissions and diagnosis/procedure for each reporting year, to allow for the differing casemix of each geographical breakdown.

Read the full report:  CCG Outcomes Indicator Set

Notes to editors

  1. Experimental statistics are official statistics which are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development and as a means to build in quality at an early stage. It is important that users understand that limitations may apply to the interpretation of this data. More details are given in the report.
  2. Deprivation has been defined by the deprivation quintile of the local super output area that someone lives in.  The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2015 is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas (lower super output areas) in England.  IMD quintiles are calculated by ranking the 32,844 small areas in England from most deprived to least deprived and dividing them into 5 equal groups. These range from the most deprived 20 per cent of small areas nationally (quintile 1) to the least deprived 20 per cent of small areas nationally (quintile 5).  Further details are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2015
  3. More information on the reasons behind the break in reporting can be found in our published Summary Position Paper.
  4. It is acceptable to compare national level figures over time as these are the base percentages at the national level year on year.

NHS Digital is the national information and technology partner of the health and care system.  Our team of information analysis, technology and project management experts create, deliver and manage the crucial digital systems, services, products and standards upon which health and care professionals depend.  During the 2017/18 financial year, NHS Digital published 275 statistical reports. Our vision is to harness the power of information and technology to make health and care better.

For media enquiries please contact media@nhsdigital.nhs.net or telephone 0300 30 33 888. Follow us on Twitter: @NHSDigital

NHS Digital must be credited as the source of these figures. Regional data is available in this report.

Channel website: https://digital.nhs.uk

Original article link: https://digital.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/emergency-readmissions-published-for-first-time-in-five-years

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