Aim: This audit was performed to ascertain whether the admission of patients to the General Medical Unit (Wellington Hospital) for one day or less was appropriate.
Methods: Between 1 July 1996 and 30 June 1997, 494 patients were admitted to General Medicine for one day or less. The medical records for a random sample of 245 patients were reviewed. A modification of the Oxford Bed Study Instrument was used to assess the appropriateness of admission.
Results: Twenty admissions (8.2%) were deemed inappropriate, six patients could have been referred to medical outpatients, four were known epileptics who presented following a seizure, and none of the others merited admission on severity criteria. Ten patients were triaged after 10.00 pm, when discharge becomes more difficult. Forty-two patients required an investigation which delayed discharge.
Conclusion: With the present community and investigation facilities available, there is no evidence that the majority of 24-hour admissions to acute General Medicine are inappropriate.