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In previous reports reference was made to the upward trend in
hospital admissions—the year 1968 being the notable exception.
Several comments could usefully be made on the tables for 1969.
The number of admissions on the subnormality side has remained
constant and marginal since the inception of the Service.
This point is commented on more extensively in the chapter on
Subnormality.
If the subnormality is disregarded, the increase of all admissions
amounts to 26%. The figures for compulsory and informal
admissions are 21% and 34% respectively. In other words the
informal admissions rose proportionately by over half as much as
the compulsory admissions.
Last year we saw the downward trend in compulsory admissions
with a marginal rise in informal admissions. This year's
upward surge of informal admissions can be explained by a more
ready acceptance by parents and their families to enter hospitals
and the increasing involvement by the M.W.O.s in the mechanics
of admissions. The sizeable rise of compulsory admissions however
remains unexplained but it is gratifying to note that this
increase is taken up wholly by Section 25 (observation) and Section
26 (treatment) leaving the figures for Section 29 (emergency)
constant. This must reflect better use of Consultant facilities by the
family doctor.