General
social admission
What does social admission mean?
An admission where the patient has no acute medical problem but cannot safely be at home — often an elderly person lacking support.
"Medically fit for weeks — it's purely a social admission now."
Origin
Widespread NHS/hospital terminology bordering on slang.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'social admission'?
It is a hospital admission driven by social need rather than illness — the patient has no acute medical problem but cannot safely be at home, often an elderly person without support.
Is 'social admission' slang?
It is widespread NHS and hospital terminology that borders on slang. It is used routinely in handovers and notes.
Why does it matter?
Because the patient is medically fit, the focus shifts to discharge planning and social care rather than treatment.
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