This report prepared for the UK Department of Health (England) aims to inform the development of emergency readmissions for use as a potential indicator within the NHS Outcomes Framework through addressing five broad aims:

1. To review the evidence on emergency readmissions within 28 days of discharge from hospital, published from 2000.

2. To provide a synopsis of work undertaken in a small sample of countries on current patterns of readmissions and the interpretation of observed patterns.

3. To comment on the statistical properties of the indicator.

4. To comment on the need for case mix adjustment of data on readmission rates.

5. To comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the indicator ‘emergency readmissions within 28 days of discharge from hospital and how it may best be used to meet the needs of the NHS.