Capacity management in acute hospitals has been a poorly understood area for many years. HCAF have been researching the statistical signatures behind variation in demand for two decades and have used the outcomes of this research to provide simple capacity management tools to enable guaranteed waiting time targets to be achieved and maintained.

The capacity management tool gives upper and lower control limits for both activity and numbers of patients waiting to be seen. This prevents managers from over-reacting to statistically insignificant changes but allows them to react appropriately when active intervention is required.

Since almost all conditions respond to the surrounding environment the correct allocation of outpatient and inpatient resources also needs to reflect this seasonal variation and it is at this point that the operational implications of the statistical signatures behind demand become exceedingly important to understand. Refer to the 'Hospital Beds' folder for details regarding optimum bed occupancy, etc.

Capacity Management Series

BJHCM = British Journal of Healthcare Management

HSJ = Health Service Journal

Jones R. Estimation of annual activity and the use of activity multipliers.

   Health Informatics 1996; 2(2): 71-77

Jones R. GP referral: Feeling a bit peaky. HSJ 2000; 110(5732): 28-31 Read 

Jones R. Waiting time: A pretty little sum. HSJ 2001: 111(5740): 28-31

Jones R. Waiting times: Quick, quick, slow. HSJ 2001; 111(5778): 20-24 

Jones R. How to maintain eighteen weeks. BJHCM 2009; 15(9): 456-7 Read

Jones R. Building smaller hospitals. BJHCM 2009; 15(10): 511-12   Read Me

Jones R. Crafting efficient bed pools. BJHCM 2009; 15(12): 614-16 Read Me

Jones R. Forecasting emergency department attendances.

   BJHCM 2010; 16(9): 495-496  Read Me

Jones R. Trends in outpatient follow-up rates in England.

   BJHCM 2012; 18(12): 647-655. Read Me

Also refer to the 'Forecasting Demand' page (See tabs above)