Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 240: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of patients that were readmitted to hospital within one week of discharge in 2003. [27135/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2003, there were 30,527 readmissions to hospital within one week of discharge. This figure is derived from the hospital inpatient inquiry, HIPE, system which gives details of activity in all publicly funded acute hospitals in the State as well as in two private hospitals. HIPE data only allows the identification of a readmission if it is to the same hospital as the original admission. The above figure includes all inpatient readmissions, that is, readmissions for the same condition, for an unrelated condition and planned readmissions, and excludes day cases.