Release of 2006/2007 hospital statistics for Northern Ireland
Thursday, 30 August 2007The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published the 2006/2007 Hospital Statistics for Northern Ireland.
The Hospital Statistics publication shows activity data analysed by Programme of Care. Specialty tables covering both inpatients and outpatients along with a Key Points document showing comparisons over the past five years were also published.
All publications are available on line at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-pubs.htm/
In 2006/2007, 518,772 inpatients were treated in Northern Ireland hospitals. Of these 358,550 (69%) were ordinary admissions and the remaining 160,222 (31%) were treated as day cases.
Overall there were 8,049 beds available with an 83.2% occupancy rate.
The average length of time spent in hospital (excluding day cases) was 6.8 days.
In 2006/2007, there were 1,523,672 outpatient attendances recorded. In 11.4% of these scheduled attendances the patient did not attend (9.8% of new referrals and 12.1% of review attendances).
The total number of attendances at accident and emergency departments in 2006/2007 was 709,326.
Key Findings 2005/2006 – 2006/2007
Comparing 2005/2006 with 2006/2007 the number of admissions to hospital (ordinary inpatients and day cases) increased from 500,223 to 518,772 (3.7%).
Over the same period the percentage of day cases decreased from 31.5% to 30.9% (-0.6 percentage points).
Comparing 2005/2006 with 2006/2007 the average number of available beds decreased from 8,238 to 8,049 (-2.3%).
The bed occupancy rate decreased from 83.6% in 2005/2006 to 83.2% in 2006/2007 (-0.4 percentage points).
The average length of time spent in hospital (excluding day cases) was 7.3 days in 2005/2006 compared with 6.8 days in 2006/2007 (-7.1%).
Comparing 2005/2006 with 2006/2007 the number of outpatient attendances increased from 1,520,335 to 1,523,672 (0.2%). Over the same period the percentage of people who did not attend their appointment decreased from 11.7% to 11.4%, (the percentage of new referrals who did not attend decreased from 10.5% to 9.8% and the percentage of review attendances who did not attend stayed constant at 12.1%).
The total number of attendances at accident and emergency departments in 2006/07 was 709,326 compared to 698,937 the previous year, an increase of 1.5%.
Notes to Editors:
1. Data definitions
- Average Available/Occupied Beds
The average number of available and occupied beds during the year in wards that are open overnight, measured at midnight. Hospitals may also have a number of beds in wards that are only open during the day. Beds reserved for day care admission or regular day admission are not included.
- Ordinary Admission
Ordinary admissions include both (a) patients admitted electively with the expectation that they will remain in hospital for at least one night, and (b) non-elective admissions (e.g. emergency admissions). A patient who is admitted with this intention but who leaves hospital for any reason without staying overnight is still counted as an ordinary admission. Day cases are not included.
- Day Case
A patient admitted electively during the course of a day with the intention of receiving care who does not require the use of a hospital bed overnight and who returns home as scheduled. If this original intention is not fulfilled and the patient stays overnight, such a patient should be counted as an ordinary admission.
- Outpatient
A patient who attends a clinic to see a consultant, a member of his firm, or a locum for such a member.
- Outpatient Did Not Attend – DNA
DNA refers to the number of patients with an appointment who did not attend and failed to give advance warning to the hospital.
- Attendances at Accident & Emergency Departments
Accident & Emergency departments provide services for patients who arrive with urgent problems, generally without appointment. The departments may be either major units which provide 24 hour service, 7 days a week, or small ‘casualty department’ units. A follow-up attendance is any re-attendance, which does not involve appointments with a consultant or a member of his/her firm.
2. This information was collated by Hospital Information Branch, DHSSPS.
Further information is available from:
Hospital Information Branch,
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
Annex 2, Castle Buildings,
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Telephone: 028 90 522800
E-mail: statistics@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stat_research/stats-pubs.htm
3. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number on 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
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