The workload of a surgical unit in a district general hospital.
A 3-month prospective study of the workload of a surgical unit in a district general hospital was performed to identify the relationship between outpatient work, admissions to hospital, and scheduled operating lists. We have shown that under 60% of all new cases seen in the outpatient clinic had admissions arranged after initial consultation. Over two-thirds of inpatient admissions were for emergencies or urgent cases, and thus not able to be controlled by the surgical team. One-third of emergency admissions had an operation within 24 h of admission. One third of the total number of cases on scheduled lists were emergency or urgent cases (taking up approximately 50% of the operating time). Of all admissions, 32% were as day cases. Of all routine operations, 35% were performed at a community hospital taking only 18% of all our admissions.
Cobb
R A
RA
Battle Hospital, Reading.
Baigrie
R J
RJ
Reece-Smith
H
H
Faber
R G
RG
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review; D014937:Work