Research shows that returning visitors to the emergency department are responsible for almost one in seven emergency visits to the hospital

Repeat emergency room visits may account for nearly one in seven hospital emergency visits, a new study suggests.

Researchers conducted a survey of frequent visitors to emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people – often elderly – are “consistently unmet.”

Experts from the British Red Cross examined data on the number of emergency rooms in Dorset. They found that about 1.7 percent of the county’s entire population is responsible for 13.8 percent of emergency room visits.

The visits are more likely to be classified as urgent by doctors, the report shows, and these people more often live in deprived neighborhoods.

Two groups were more likely to be repeat visitors; the first group consisted of people over 70 with two or more long-term conditions, almost half of whom were nearing the end of their lives.

The second group consists of 20 to 49 years old, with slightly more women than men, with poor mental health.

Both groups come to the emergency room more often by ambulance and both visited the GP more often in the month before their visit to the emergency room, the report shows.

Many people make repeat visits to emergency departments across the country due to unresolved medical problems and other unmet non-clinical needs, the British Red Cross said.

Researchers conducted a study on frequent visitors to emergency departments and concluded that the needs of these people – often elderly – are ‘consistently not met’ (file image)

The charity has made a series of recommendations, including creating a more dedicated, intensive use of emergency services.

“Millions of people go to A&E every year when they have an accident or are in desperate need of care, but some people need to go to A&E more often than others,” said Beatrice Butsana-Sita, director of the charity.

‘There are many reasons that could contribute to this and for those individuals it is very distressing. It is a situation that any of us can find ourselves in.

‘Our research found that almost one in seven A&E visitors in Dorset came from less than 2 per cent of the county’s population.

“Those people needed help and were much more likely to be classified as urgent cases or require hospitalization.”

She said Red Cross teams regularly see people facing a range of issues, from isolation to inadequate housing, which can impact health and wellbeing.

‘As the Government begins developing a new plan to transform the NHS, this research gives even more urgency to the need to tackle the root causes of ill health, provide vital community services and more committed, intensive use of emergency services emergency services,” says Ms Butsana. -Sita added.

‘This will help ensure the right services are available to support people with compassion when they need it most, before they reach a crisis point.’