Author: Ellis A, Trappes-Lomax T, Fox M, Taylor R, Power M, Stead J and Bainbridge I
Journal: Health and Social Care in the Community, 2006
Volume/pages: Vol 14(2), pp95-106

About the study
This study is an economic evaluation of a joint NHS and Social Services rehabilitation unit in England. Older people who were discharged from a community hospital, aged over 55 and considered likely to benefit, spent 6 weeks in the unit where they worked with care or rehabilitation assistants and occupational therapists to regain their independence. The control group were from a matched geographical area without a rehabilitation unit and received standard community services.

Findings
Overall costs for the intervention and control group over twelve months were very similar with the aggregated mean cost being just over £8500 for both groups. However, the cost of the unit was greater for social services while the cost of usual care was greater for the NHS, because during the twelve month follow up period the control group made more use of NHS services.

Key messages

• Short-term residential rehabilitation for older people following hospital discharge is no more cost-effective than usual care
• Where this type of approach is adopted, health and social care services will need to carefully consider the distribution of costs