Page 6413 - Week 19 - Tuesday, 17 December 1991

BY DECREASING LONG STAY BEDS AND INCREASING

SHORT STAYS AND CHANGING SERVICES SO THAT

PATIENTS WERE HAVING ALL TESTS DONE BEFORE

ARRIVING AT THE HOSPITAL, ALSO CUT DOWN ON COSTS

TO THE HOSPITAL. AS BEDS HAD BEEN LOST, ADMISSIONS

HAD INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE SHORT STAY PRACTICE.

ST. VINCENTS HAD CLOSED 50 LONG STAY BEDS OVER THE

PAST 2 YEARS. ONE OF THE OTHER SAVINGS WAS A 24-

HOUR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICE AND THE USE

OF OPERATING THEATRES, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DID NOT EVER TURN

PATIENTS AWAY AS THEY HAD DONE IN THE PAST. BEDS

HAD TO BE FOUND! IT IS, OF COURSE, THE MEDICAL

REGISTRARS DECISION WHETHER TO DISCHARGE EARLIER

THAN PLANNED, THEREBY MAKING ROOM FOR ACCIDENT

AND EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS.