“…In order to empirically measure any improvement in readmission, it was necessary to quantify and understand this activity at a national, regional and NHS Trust level and then compare these figures with a psychological service within that Trust. A number of research papers have made use of national figures for comparison purposes with local figures (Bardach et al, 2013; Bowles et al, 2009; Jarman, 2010; Kates et al, 2011; Mallisetty et al, 2015). There is also precedent for using hospital episode stay data for psychiatric admissions (Bartlett et al, 2001; Smith et al, 1996; Thompson et al, 2004).…”