Please note: an error was identified in the series of emergency readmissions indicators that were published on the Indicator Portal on 8 November 2011. The last two years (2008/09 and 2009/10) of each time series were standardised to 2006/07 whereas previous years have been standardised to 2005/06. The data have been removed from the Indicator Portal. The previous series of emergency readmissions indicators, with data to 2008/9, can be accessed through the archive. Corrected indicators, with data to 2009/10, were published during the week commencing 21 November 2011.

---

Summary

These emergency readmission indicators provide information to help the NHS monitor success in avoiding (or reducing to a minimum) readmission following discharge from hospital.

Not all emergency readmissions are likely to be part of the originally planned treatment and some may be potentially avoidable. The NHS may be helped to prevent potentially avoidable readmissions by seeing comparative figures and learning lessons from organisations with low readmission rates.

The indicators presented measure emergency admissions to hospitals in England occurring within 28 days of the last, previous discharge from hospital.

• There are five emergency readmissions indicators: fractured proximal femur; hip replacement surgery; hysterectomy; stroke and ‘all readmissions' (see Cautionary notes below).
• Data is presented for the period 2000/01 to 2009/10, split by gender where applicable, and by age group for the ‘all readmissions' indicator.
• Data is provided for around 700 health and local government organisations in England.

These indicators were previously published on the Compendium of Clinical and Health Indicators and are now published on the NHS IC's Indicator Portal as part of the continuing release of this indicator set.

Data, along with indicator specifications, providing details of indicator construction, data quality, statistical methods and interpretation considerations, can be accessed on The NHS IC's Indicator Portal:

Go to the indicators

Key facts

In the 2009/10 financial year:

• Emergency readmission rates were significantly higher for stroke and fractured proximal femur than for hysterectomy, primary hip replacement surgery and ‘all readmissions' (16-74 age group).
• Primary hip replacement surgery had the lowest emergency readmission rates of the four procedures/diagnoses investigated.
• Emergency readmission rates were significantly higher for men than for women for fractured proximal femur, primary hip replacement surgery and ‘all readmissions' (16-74 age group). There was no significant difference in the stroke readmission rates for men and women.

Over the time period 2000/01 to 2009/10:

• Emergency readmission rates have increased significantly for fractured proximal femur, stroke, hysterectomy and ‘all readmissions'. The most recent emergency readmission rate for primary hip replacement (2007/08-2009/10) is significantly lower than the rate for 2000/01-2002/03.
• However, emergency readmission rates for fractured proximal femur have not changed significantly since 2005/06 and stroke emergency readmission rates did not change significantly between 2008/09 and 2009/10.

Cautionary notes on interpretation

• A number of factors outside the control of hospitals, such as the socio-economic mix of local populations and events prior to hospitalisation, may contribute to the variation shown by the indicators. Differences in case-mix, severity of illness, comorbidities and other potential risk factors also contribute to the variation.
• No attempt has been made to assess whether the readmission was linked to the discharge in terms of diagnosis.
• Some emergency readmissions may be potentially avoidable and a result of poor treatment in hospital, or poor or badly organised rehabilitation and support services when a person is transferred home following treatment. This analysis does not attempt to identify whether the emergency readmissions were avoidable.
• ‘All readmissions' includes all finished and unfinished continuous inpatient (CIP) spells that are emergency admissions within 0-27 days (inclusive) of the last, previous discharge from hospital, including those where the patient dies, but excluding the following: those with a main specialty upon readmission coded under obstetric or mental health specialties; and those where the readmitting spell has a diagnosis of cancer (other than benign or in situ) or chemotherapy for cancer coded anywhere in the spell.

Data

Data, along with indicator specifications, providing details of indicator construction, data quality, statistical methods and interpretation considerations, can be accessed on The NHS IC's Indicator Portal:

Go to the indicators