More elderly dying after surgery, study finds

More elderly are dying or being readmitted to hospital within a month of surgery, a Canterbury study shows.

Researchers from the Christchurch branch of Otago University's School of Medicine studied elderly who had surgery for common, and typically non-fatal ailments, including hip and knee replacements, removal of gall bladders and hernias.

The study compared patient records in 2001-02 and 2003-04 and found a probable increase of 13 per cent of patients over 65 readmitted to hospital or dying within a month of surgery.

Grey Power health spokesman Dick Stark said the findings demonstrated the health sector's increasing inability to care for patients, particularly the elderly.

The aged-care political group says it may be because patients are discharged too early to clear beds or community care is poor.

Lead researcher Juliet Rumball-Smith said readmission to hospital was one indicator of the quality of care patients received after surgery.

The study could show a decline in care nationwide.

However, more research was needed to determine how much the complexity of a patient's condition affected the outcomes, Rumball-Smith said.

Canterbury aged-care expert Dr Jeff Kirwan said in most cases the elderly were not discharged too soon in order to free up hospital beds. Staying in hospital too long could have a negative effect on some, he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News