Managing the Pressure

Summary

At certain times of the year, the health service experiences dramatic peaks in demand – for example, the sharp rise in respiratory disease during the Christmas period. These peaks put pressure on already stretched services, but because they happen at the same time every year, they are highly predictable. This research summary examines the nature of emergency admissions in London, and argues that improved management of patients could alleviate pressures on hospitals during busy periods. It examines the main clinical conditions associated with emergency admissions and which types of patients are likely to be admitted as an emergency, and proposes ways in which the NHS can tackle the problem.