Data on the average (mean) in-patient length of stay is shown in the following table.
Average length of stay (Days) 1997-98 8.8 1998-99 8.4 1999-2000 7.8 2000-01 8.2 2001-02 8.1 2002-03 7.9 2003-04 7.4 2004-05 7.1 2005-06 6.6 2006-07 6.3 2007-08 5.7 1 Length of stay (LOS) is calculated as the difference in days between the admission date and the episode end date (duration of episode) or discharge date (duration of spell), where both dates are given. LOS is based on hospital stays and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). Information relating to LOS figures, including discharge method/destination, diagnoses and any operative procedures, is based only on the final episode of the spell. Notes: 1. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and Social Care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 2. Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period, whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. 3. This is the total number of eligible admissions from which the mean and median time waited are derived. Admissions contributing towards this total are waiting list and booked admissions, with planned admissions being excluded. A waiting list admission is one in which a patient has been admitted electively into hospital from a waiting list, having been given no date of admission at the time a decision to admit was made. Alternatively, booked admissions are those in which the patient was admitted electively having been given a date at the time it was decided to admit, determined on the grounds of resource availability. Planned admissions are excluded as they are usually part of a planned sequence of clinical care determined mainly on clinical criteria, which, for example, could require a series of events, perhaps taking place every three months, six months or annually. Source: Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care.
Data on the number of in-patient admissions where time waited was 183 days or longer is shown in the following table.
Total admissions with eligible time waited information1 with a time waited of 183 days or longer in England, 1997-98 to 2007-08Total admissions with a time waited of 183 days or more1997-98603,7771998-99727,8121999-2000596,9062000-01591,2872001-02606,6012002-03673,6492003-04681,7532004-05512,7582005-06381,9122006-07261,5342007-08147,5221 A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.Notes:1. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and Social Care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 2. Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period, whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.3. This is the total number of eligible admissions from which the mean and median time waited are derived. Admissions contributing towards this total are waiting list and booked admissions, with planned admissions being excluded. A waiting list admission is one in which a patient has been admitted electively into hospital from a waiting list, having been given no date of admission at the time a decision to admit was made. Alternatively, booked admissions are those in which the patient was admitted electively having been given a date at the time it was decided to admit, determined on the grounds of resource availability. Planned admissions are excluded as they are usually part of a planned sequence of clinical care determined mainly on clinical criteria, which, for example, could require a series of events, perhaps taking place every three months, six months or annually.Source:Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care.