DO COMMUNITY HOSPITALS REDUCE THE USE OF DISTRICT GENERAL-HOSPITAL INPATIENT BEDS

Community hospitals have been supported by the general public and by p rofessionals as one means of increasing choice between local, low tech nology, care and high technology care at the district general hospital . However, there is no information on the impact of community hospital s on district general hospital use subsequent to NHS and community car e reforms. Examination of routinely gathered activity data in the Bath Health District revealed that availability of community hospital beds was associated with reduced use of central inpatient services in the city of Bath. The reduction was most apparent for medical and geriatri c beds. Decrease in the use of surgical beds was small. However, total inpatient bed use (including central and community hospital beds) was higher in the population with access to community hospital beds. We c onclude that community hospitals offer one option for accessible healt h care and, as such, merit systematic evaluation of costs and benefits . This study presents some evidence that savings could be achieved thr ough improved efficiency.