The context and content of community hospital admissions.

Hospital admissions from a general practice were studied for one year. One-third of all admissions were found to be to a community hospital. Those admitted were mainly elderly people. The majority of patients stayed in the community hospital only a short time and 69% of patients returned home on discharge. Social, nursing and medical factors determined admission and discharge. Social factors were found to be increasingly important as the age of patients increases while medical factors become less important.