Authors' recommendations: 'In-reach' refers to active involvement of health professionals from primary/community care in the management of patients receiving (or presenting for) treatment in secondary care. Evidence is not definitive but availability of primary care staff to treat less urgent cases in A&E departments may result in better use of NHS resources. For older patients admitted to hospital there is evidence that comprehensive geriatric assessment can reduce premature mortality and admission to residential care, particularly when conducted in dedicated wards. Individual discharge planning from the outset can reduce length of hospital stay and reduce risk of readmission within three months. Current national policy is strongly in favour of integration, which may make implementing in-reach interventions easier. We found little robust cost-effectiveness evidence for these interventions. There is a risk that apparent savings in hospital costs may merely be transferred to primary or social care.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/pdf/Primary%20care%20In%20reach%20in%20hospital%20settings.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England

Organisation Name: University of York

Contact Address: University of York, York, Y01 5DD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1904 321040, Fax: +44 1904 321041,

Contact Name: crd@york.ac.uk

Contact Email: crd@york.ac.uk

Copyright: University of York