Seamless care or patchwork quilt? : discharging patients from acute hospital care

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The author considers discharge policy and practice in the UK which is aiming for a goal of seamless care. Chapter 2 summarises three areas of discharge related research: the experiences of elderly people and their carers; difficulties for those whose task is to manage acute beds; and communication between hospital and community based professionals. Chapter 3 draws attention to an emerging management agenda documenting the impact of Government guidance on discharge (HC(89)5)) and the additional demands of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. Comparisons with discharge planning in America are given. Chapter 4 explores the effects of the continuing trends towards shorter lengths of stay, the decline of inpatient convalescent care, the reduction of long-term beds in the NHS, and the development of numerous initiatives in providing acute levels of care in the home.

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