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The relation between changes in inpatient workload, measured as increases or decreases in the number of inpatients admitted from the waiting list, and the overall length of the waiting list was studied. Overall trends in admissions from the waiting list, the influence of seasonal patterns, and the impact of industrial action on admissions were also studied. The hypothesis was that when admissions from the waiting list increased the length of the waiting list would decrease and vice versa. No such simple relation was found. In fact, if anything, as the number of admissions from the waiting list increased so did the length of the waiting list. This result could be due to inconsistencies in compiling waiting list data or to the use of waiting lists to improve organisational efficiency. It is also possible, and perhaps likely, that the ability to meet need in admitting patients to hospital influences patients and their doctors to translate previously unmet need into demand for hospital services.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/bmj.295.6606.1105

Type

Journal article

Journal

British medical journal (Clinical research ed.)

Publication Date

10/1987

Volume

295

Pages

1105 - 1108

Addresses

Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Oxford, Headington.

Keywords

Humans, Patient Admission, Seasons, State Medicine, Appointments and Schedules, Waiting Lists, Statistics as Topic, United Kingdom