BMJ  2005;330:1188-1189 (21 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.38440.588449.AE (published 20 April 2005)

Paper

Analysis of the distribution of time that patients spend in emergency departments

¹ Medical Care Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

The NHS Plan stated: "By 2004 no one should be waiting more than four hours in Accident and Emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge."¹ This target was changed to allow for certain clinical exceptions, and since January 2005, 98% of patients must spend less than four hours there.² We analysed the distribution of time spent by patients in emergency departments in England.

Participants, methods, and results

We invited major emergency departments (those providing 24 hour cover and most core services) in England to submit data for each new patient attending during April 2004. We determined the distribution of total time in each department for patients who were admitted to hospital and for those discharged from the department. To assess the generalisability of these findings, we used performance data from the Department of Health to compare trusts in which at least one department had submitted data or in which no department had.³

We . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Further analysis needed!

Farokh D. Wadia, et al.
bmj.com, 26 May 2005 [Full text]

This study helps reveal why the 4 hour limit may not be breached

Peter J Flegg
bmj.com, 28 May 2005 [Full text]

Understanding waiting times in Accident and Emergency and potential impact on patients and beds

Derek Bell, et al.
bmj.com, 14 Jun 2005 [Full text]

How long is too long? Waiting time as a performance indicator in emergency departements

Pitrou Isabelle, et al.
bmj.com, 21 Jun 2005 [Full text]

Re: Understanding waiting times in Accident and Emergency and potential impact on patients and beds

Thomas E Locker, et al.
bmj.com, 29 Jun 2005 [Full text]

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