The outcome of treatment in hostels

Abstract

AbstractObjectives: This paper aimed to examine the outcome of hostel treatment including the effect on hospitalisation rates.Methods: The work of the four medium/long term Gloucester hostels developed between 1983 and 1993, to provide 24-hour nursed care to ‘new long stay’ patients in Gloucester is described.Results: Fifty-eight patients with predominately severe mental illness were admitted to the hostels up to 1999, and demographic/illness data is presented. Mean duration of hostel stay was 4.8 years, and one third of patients were readmitted to hospital (most briefly) during their hostel admission, one patient 11 times. Thirty-four patients were discharged from hostels, 29 to less dependent settings, but four referred to hospital care. There was a significant reduction in the number of admissions and duration of hospitalisation in the time between discharge from the hostel to the present or death, as compared with the same time frame for each individual prior to entering the hostel system.Conclusions: The data adds further support to the potential value of 24 hour nursed care for patients with severe mental illness.