Readmissions to Learning Disability Hospitals

Abstract

A total of 154 people with learning disabilities who were discharged from hospital to community care were studied (using information from care staff and case-notes) with a view to establishing the number of readmissions and exploring the reasons for these readmissions. A readmission rate of 8.4 percent was found, which was broadly in line with previous studies in this area. As expected, and as previously reported, severe problem behaviour was a prominent reason for hospital readmission, with physical aggression to staff and peers being a factor in each of these cases. Relapsing mental illness was thought to be a factor in a number of the admissions precipitated by physical aggression. Physical deterioration figured highly as a cause of readmission to the learning disability hospitals, demonstrating their continuing role in providing physical health care for a group of patients who were not being provided for by generic services.