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Emerg Med J 2006;23:612-613 doi:10.1136/emj.2005.029470
  • Original Article

Review of a paediatric emergency department observation unit

  1. I Levett1,
  2. K Berry2,
  3. I Wacogne2
  1. 1New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK
  2. 2Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Ian Levett
 154 Pershore Road, Birmingham B5 7NY, UK; ianlevett{at}doctors.net.uk
  • Accepted 25 March 2006

Abstract

Aim: To review the function of an emergency department paediatric observation unit.

Method: A retrospective observational study reviewing the activity of the observation unit for 12 months

Results: During 12 months, 4446 children were admitted to the observation unit and 76% were discharged home: usually within 8 hours. The average admission rate was 12 children in 24 hours. The commonest causes for children being admitted to the observation unit were respiratory problems and gastroenteritis or dehydration.

Conclusion: The emergency paediatric observational unit was used to assess and treat children with a variety of conditions. This enabled many children to be managed in the emergency department rather than being admitted to the paediatric wards.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Competing interest: none declared.

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