Health trends
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As part of an audit of clinical practice in an orthopaedic unit for elective surgery, a study was made of the causes of cancellation of operations. Despite careful liaison with general practitioners, and a booked admission policy, over 6% of patients were cancelled as unsuitable. The results of this study suggest that the number of cancellations on medical grounds would be reduced by closer liaison with general practitioners, and the establishment of preadmission clinics. Ensuring that only consultants book patients for surgery would also reduce the number of cancellations due to incorrect indications for surgery.
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This study was undertaken and completed in 1988, in an attempt to determine the reasons for admission to hospital, and the optimum care required for patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus related illnesses. Approximately half of the total medical admissions stayed for less than a week, and patients admitted for terminal care and social care occupied a relatively small proportion of the beds. The single largest group of admissions were those for inpatient management of AIDS-related pneumonias. The results of this study provide a greater understanding of the resources currently required for such care, and suggest initiatives for meeting future needs.
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A music festival was held in July 1989 near Liskeard in Cornwall. This paper comments on some of the organisational problems, and documents the workload of voluntary workers and professional medical agencies serving the festival. ⋯ There were two deaths and one birth at the site. It is suggested that, in addition to the services provided by voluntary agencies, organisers of mass gatherings should provide suitably qualified medical and nursing personnel on site.
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A number of reports have suggested that the incidence of deliberate self-harm has been declining since the late 1970s. Most of these findings have emerged from studies of hospital inpatients, but a large proportion of patients are sent home directly from Accident and Emergency Departments. ⋯ It is argued that age-specific trends, based on inpatient statistics, could be distorted by Accident and Emergency discharges. It is recommended that future epidemiological studies of deliberate self-harm include patients who progress no further than the Accident and Emergency Department.