Variation in demand for accident and emergency departments in England from 1974 to 1985.
Over the period 1974-85 the range of mean annual new attendance rates at Accident and Emergency departments among English health districts was 36-673 per 1000 residents. The socio-economic diversity of these districts explained only one-third of the variation. The rates rose significantly (p less than 0.05) in 89 per cent of districts over the twelve years. Again, socio-economic variation only partly explained differences in district trends. Increases were greater among districts with higher mean rates. In order to plan first-contact care rationally we need a better understanding of the factors underlying these trends.
Milner
P C
PC
Department of Community Medicine, University of Sheffield Medical School.
Nicholl
J P
JP
Williams
B T
BT
D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic