What is it about?
Successful calculation of acute bed numbers is a critical component of healthcare capacity delivery. Since 2010 this author has been highlighting the fact that end-of-life represents the most resource intensive part of individual health demand, and that this inescapable fact is not part of acute capacity modeling. Standardized mortality rates are a distraction from the fact that it is the absolute number of persons dying that drives this type of demand. This article looks at the trend in available beds per death in England between 1987 to 2017.
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Why is it important?
Calculating acute bed numbers is fundamental to capacity planning. If you get the forecasts wrong vast amounts of capital expenditure can be misdirected or chronic capacity limitations can be built into the healthcare system.
Perspectives
The UK has one of the lowest levels of acute bed provision in the world and is now experiencing chronic bed shortages. This is part of a far longer series investigating acute bed demand and optimal bed occupancy which can be found at http://www.hcaf.biz/2010/Publications_Full.pdf
Dr Rodney P Jones
Healthcare Analysis & Forecasting
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This page is a summary of: Trends in available beds per death in England, British Journal of Healthcare Management, June 2018, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/bjhc.2018.24.7.358.
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