THE East Lancs Matrons Group is concerned about the Health Authority Registration and Inspection annual report and the fact that the general public may have been given an entirely wrong impression of nursing homes in this area.

We are not disagreeing with the facts and figures of the actual report, but feel that some press reports have implied that nursing homes are to blame for early deaths following admission.

The statistics published in the registration report did not infer any blame on the part of any nursing homes in East Lancashire.

We agree with the comments made by David Lewis (LET, July 16) in that elderly patients are being discharged from hospital not too early, but too late and, may we add, too ill.

There has been increased concern by matrons since the Community Care Act came into force, over the condition of clients being admitted to their homes and these concerns prompted the collection of data over the last three years by the Registration Authority.

It is evident from the statistics that these concerns expressed by the matrons are valid. We will be writing to the health authority requesting them to investigate the results and take appropriate action of this survey - in particular on hospital discharge procedures.

EAST LANCS MATRONS GROUP, Burnley.

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