A Geriatric Day Ward in an English Hospital

A bstract : The proper function and location of a Geriatric Day Ward are described. Patients attend from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., one to five days per week. Statistics are given on the scope of the work carried on in the Day Ward of West Middlesex Hospital since the Ward opened in 1962. The patients obtain multidisciplinary services, including medical investigation and treatment. The period of these rehabilitation and assessment services rarely extends beyond three months. The cost is considerably less than for standard in‐patient care. The Day Ward should bridge the gap between out‐patient care and 24‐hour in‐patient care. It should be directly linked to the Geriatric Department in the hospital. However, it should also be associated with Day Centres established in the community, if post‐discharge deterioration of the patients is to be prevented. The Day Ward not only enables early discharge of the patient, but is useful in treating out‐patients who have severe locomotor handicaps, when in‐patient admission is not feasible.