National Institute for Health Research - NIHR Signal -
Closure of five small emergency departments in England was not associated with change in the number of hospital admissions, urgent care attendances or deaths among the local populations. However, ambulance call-outs increased by 14 per cent relative to comparison areas, with a four-minute increase in the time to reach a hospital with an emergency department. This NIHR-funded study is the first to assess the impact of downgrading or closing emergency departments.