A nurse-led scheme to prevent hospital admissions by providing emergency services in the community for up to 72 hours cared for 155 people in its first six months. The scheme operated well below full capacity partly because of initial opposition from GPs. The mean age of service users was 79 and the main reasons for referral were chest infections, pneumonia and the need for support following an injury. More than three quarters of those cared for were fit to be discharged from the scheme within 72 hours.