Focus on how to cut 'avoidable' hospital visits

Whangarei Hospital

There were nearly 4000 avoidable hospital admissions in Northland in the first three months of this year.

Dental conditions, respiratory infections and the bacterial skin infection cellulitis were the most common reasons for ambulatory sensitive hospital admissions (ASH) - conditions seen as amenable to out-of-hospital treatment if they are properly managed.

The statistics formed part of a socio-economic profile of Whangarei put together by Whangarei District Council's environmental trends analyst, Sonya Seutter. The report is due to be presented to district councillors this week.

Of the 3911 avoidable hospitalisations from January to March, 684 were children under the age of 5, with more than 200 cases of children being hospitalised due to a dental condition. Gastroenteritis-related dehydration accounted for 113 admissions, with pneumonia and ear, nose and throat conditions accounting for 200 young child admissions.

Three children under 5 were hospitalised with a vaccine-preventable disease.

Among adults, 500 dental condition-related admissions accounted for 13 per cent of the total ASH admissions. There was an almost equal split between non-Maori and Maori ASH admissions, though there were more than double the number of Maori patients presenting with asthma, bronchitis, congestive heart failure, dental conditions, dermatitis, eczema, diabetes and heart disease.

Ms Seutter said access to health services in Northland was limited by long driving distances, a relatively deprived and scattered population and limited public transport.

She said the report could influence strategic planning, land use plans, infrastructure and community development.

Aside from health it covered economic activity in the district, as well as comparing Whangarei's employment, incomes, education and deprivation to elsewhere in the country.