NHS not tracking why more patients are being readmitted to hospital
New research indicates spike in emergency readmissions to hospital over the last year. Healthwatch England's report calls on NHS to fix the data gaps to help understand why.
Hundreds of thousands of people are having to go back into hospital within 30 days of being discharged, but a lack of data means the NHS is not analysing the reasons why.
Not every 'emergency readmission' can or should be avoided. Hospitals sometimes plan more, but shorter, stays in hospital based on people's individual needs and the services available in the community.
However, Healthwatch England know from the stories shared with local Healthwatch like Healthwatch Milton Keynes, that people are having to be rushed back into hospital for complications which could have been avoided, especially when it comes to elderly patients and those receiving end-of-life care.
To read the briefing and access the report on what has changed one year on from our first analysis click here.
