| Summary: | Neuromuscular diseases (NMD) require long-term multi-disciplinary care. In 2010-11 there were 5.3 million emergency admissions of which 213,000 related to neurological disorders. 13% of these (∼28,000) were secondary to NMD. With each admission costing ∼£3000 per day, it is estimated that this leads to costs of £81 m nationally (£28 m in four specialised commissioning groups [SCG]: London, East of England, South-East Coast and South-Central). Fundamentally, avoidable admissions have an adverse effect on quality of life. Studies have shown that strengthening links between specialist and primary care, integration of health and psychosocial care and hospital at home interventions are associated with lower emergency admission rates. The aims were to: 1. Determine the proportion of avoidable emergency admissions directly attributable to NMD 2. Determine what proportion of patients are known to specialist neuromuscular services and compare characteristics of such admissions against centres without a specialist service 3. Identify reasons for emergency admissions and preventable measures.
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