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Original Article
Referral to the accident and emergency department following the use of community alarms
  1. G G Youssef1,
  2. T J Underhill1,
  3. C Tovey2
  1. 1Accident and Emergency Department, Conquest Hospital, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex
  2. 2Accident and Emergency Department, Hope Hospital, Salford M6 8FJ
  1. Correspondence to: Mr Tovey(crobins{at}fsl.ho.man.ac.uk)

Abstract

Objectives—To assess the degree of appropriate referral to the accident and emergency (A&E) department following the use of a community alarm where a mobile warden works in conjunction with the community alarm control centre.

Methods—611 consecutive calls using community alarms underwent assessment and the appropriateness of referral to the A&E department was considered.

Results—Of 542 requests for help 44 patients were transported to the A&E department (8.1%). Twenty nine patients were admitted (5.3%) and 15 patients (2.8%) discharged home from the A&E department after assessment or treatment, or both. Only three patients (0.55%) had been referred to the A&E department inappropriately.

Conclusions—This study shows that where a mobile warden works in conjunction with the community alarm control centre the number of inappropriate referrals to the A&E department should be minimal.

  • community alarm
  • social alarm
  • personal emergency response system

https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.17.5.348

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: none.

    • Conflicts of interest: none.