Release of 2008/09 hospital statistics for Northern Ireland

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published the 2008/2009 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/

Key Findings 2008/2009

• In 2008/2009, 551,098 inpatients were treated in Northern Ireland hospitals. Of these 371,626 (67%) were ordinary admissions and the remaining 179,472 (33%) were treated as day cases.
• Overall there were 7,706 beds available with an 82% occupancy rate.
• The average length of time spent in hospital (excluding day cases) was 6.2 days.
• In 2008/2009, there were 1,565,497 outpatient attendances recorded. In 10.8% of these scheduled attendances, the patient did not attend (7.4% of new referrals and 12.3% of review attendances).
• 10.1% of scheduled outpatient appointments were cancelled by the hospital. Appointments were cancelled for a variety of reasons, principally, in order to reschedule the original appointment to an alternative date and due the unavailability of the consultant.
• The total number of attendances at Accident and Emergency departments in 2008/2009 was 732,022.

Key Findings 2007/2008 – 2008/2009

• Comparing 2007/2008 with 2008/2009, the number of admissions to hospital (ordinary inpatients and day cases) increased from 538,586 to 551,098 (+2.3%).
• Over the same period, the percentage of day cases increased from 31.3% to 32.6% (+1.3 percentage points).
• Comparing 2007/2008 with 2008/2009, the average number of available beds decreased from 7,873 to 7,706 (-2.1%).
• The bed occupancy rate decreased from 82.5% in 2007/2008 to 82.3% in 2008/2009 (-0.2 percentage points).
• The average length of time spent in hospital (excluding day cases) fell from 6.4 days in 2007/2008 to 6.2 days in 2008/2009 (-3.0%).
• Comparing 2007/2008 with 2008/2009, the number of outpatient attendances increased from 1,565,123 to 1,565,497 (+<0.1%).
• The total number of attendances at Accident and Emergency departments in 2008/09 was 732,022 compared to 723,095 the previous year, an increase of 1.2%.

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 and the number who did not attend but informed the hospital on the day on which the appointment was scheduled. Due to a change in the definition of a DNA, data for 2008/09 is not directly comparable with those for previous years.
  
• Appointment cancelled by the hospital
  
  An appointment that was intended to be held, but which did not occur, due to circumstances within the hospital. Appointments may be cancelled by the hospital for a variety of reasons. These include in order to reschedule the appointment to an alternative date and due to the unavailability of the consultant.
  
• 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 02890 520074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.