there are different patterns of ED presentations and hospital admissions of older people who do and do not live in RCFs. The appropriateness of these differences is uncertain.

Education programmes should continue to emphasize that chest pain is a potential medical emergency and an ambulance should be called. GPs should consider developing an action plan to manage patients presenting with chest pain.

Making the diagnosis of PE in ED was associated with a substantial survival advantage that persisted after hospital discharge.

Fever of unknown origin is diagnosed less frequently in adults than in children. Adult patients are more likely to be admitted, have longer lengths of stay and have positive blood cultures. Although FUO is diagnosed infrequently in the ED, blood cultures remain useful in the evaluation of unexplained fever, particularly in adults as age increases.