Analysis of the list of patients awaiting transfer from a geriatric department to local-authority welfare residential accommodation and evaluation of priorities.

An analysis of the waiting list of patients in the geriatric department waiting for transfer to welfare residential accommodation revealed that those who lived alone had no close relatives, had to pay rent for their accommodation and would need assistance with fees had to wait the longest for welfare accommodation while those who lived with relatives or who had close relatives, who owned their houses and appeared to be able to manage full fees gained access to welfare accommodation homes more quickly. It also was apparent that hose who were mentally confused were disadvantaged in that they took longest to transfer to a residential home. There should be a reappraisal of priorities for transfer of patients from hospital to a welfare home.