Attempts to divert patients from A & E make little difference

TThe proportion of patients suitable for diversion has been low and many patients do not wish to receive care from alternative sources, they added.

The authors concluded that there was little evidence to support the approach of diverting patients.

"This review failed to demonstrate conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of diversion strategies on the use of emergency services and the subsequent use of health care. They wrote.

"At present, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the implementation of diversion protocols as effective or safe strategies to address the overcrowding of emergency services."

Lead author Dr. Brian Rowe from the University of Alberta suggested that diverting resources to diversion may not be necessary.

"I'm not sure that the efforts to diversion are really worth all the costs, the time and the monitoring," he said.