As pressure increases on public health systems globally, a potential consequence is that
this is transferred to patients in the form of longer waiting times to receive care. In this review …

This systematic review aimed to measure the prevalence of inappropriate emergency
department (ED) use by adults and associated factors. The review included 31 articles …

Objectives: Access block refers to the delay caused for patients in gaining access to in-
patient beds after being admitted. It is almost always associated with emergency department …

Background In several western countries patients' use of Emergency Departments (EDs) is
increasing. A substantial number of patients is self-referred, but does not need emergency …

Presenting complaints at an Emergency Department (ED) that could (and should) have been
seen in primary care is discussed in the literature as 'inappropriate use'of hospital-based …

Objectives Worldwide, emergency healthcare systems are under intense pressure from ever-
increasing demand and evidence is urgently needed to understand how this can be safely …

OBJECTIVE: To investigate structural and psychological factors that lead non-urgent
patients to choose the Accidents & Emergency Department (A&ED) rather than primary care …

Investigating why people use the hospital emergency department (ED) for visits considered
medically nonurgent can enhance our understanding of people's expectations of health care …

BACKGROUND: Emergency departments (EDs) are critical to the management of acute
illness and injury, and the provision of health system access. However, EDs have become …

Background Telephone calls for emergency ambulances are rising annually, increasing the
pressure on ambulance resources for clinical problems that could often be appropriately …