title: Equity and access: exploring the effects of hospital location on the population served--a case study in strategic planning.
abstract: This paper describes a case study in which a simulation model, specifically an attraction-constrained spatial interaction model, is used to provide information to assist in the exploration of different options for the future provision of in-patient hospital facilities in an English Regional Health Authority. The model is used to evaluate options on the basis of their effect on two different criteria: first the level of utilization of hospital in-patient facilities relative to need of populations resident in different parts of the region, and secondly the relative ease of geographical access of the facilities to the populations served.
mesh_terms: D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004739:England; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006752:Hospital Planning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010934:Planning Techniques; D013222:State Medicine