What is it about?
This study explains the key steps in maternity capacity planning. First is establish whether the unit currently has enough beds using size and bed occupancy. Next is forecast future births. A spreadsheet is provided as a basis for making future estimates at a local level. Finally, the fallacy that reducing length of stay saves money is addressed. It is suggested that Health agencies investigate implementing minimum LOS requirements for common maternity events.
Featured Image
Photo by Tim Bish on Unsplash
Why is it important?
In 2012 England experienced a maternity bed crisis. The increased births eventually abated leading to a false sense of having sufficient capacity. However, another wave of increasing births is about to commence and emanates out of the World War II baby boom with succeeding generations reaching the common ages for birth roughly simultaneously.
Perspectives
Capacity planning in the English NHS is notoriously poor and this study highlights the steps required to address this problem. There are a common set of conditions which will apply across multiple countries.
Dr Rodney P Jones
Healthcare Analysis & Forecasting
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Capacity Planning (Capital, Staff and Costs) of Inpatient Maternity Services: Pitfalls for the Unwary, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, January 2025, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22010087.
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