Dan Neville
Ceist:604 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients re-admitted to hospital within seven days of being discharged. [1007/03]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
In 2001, some 28,705 patients were re-admitted to hospital within one week of discharge. This figure is derived from HIPE (hospital in-patient enquiry) data, which gives details of activity in publicly funded acute general hospitals in the State. HIPE data is only able to record re-admissions to the same hospital, as it is not possible to trace patients from hospital to hospital. The above figure includes all in-patient re-admissions that is re-admissions for the same condition, for an unrelated condition and planned re-admissions, and excludes day cases.