• Emerg Med J · Feb 2011

    Demand and capacity planning in the emergency department: how to do it.

    • I Higginson, J Whyatt, and K Silvester.
    • Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Emergency Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK. ian.higginson@phnt.swest.nhs.uk
    • Emerg Med J. 2011 Feb 1; 28 (2): 128-35.

    BackgroundUnless emergency departments have adequate capacity to meet demand, they will fail to meet clinical and performance standards and will be operating in the 'coping zone'. This carries risks both for staff and patients.MethodsAs part of a quality improvement programme, the authors undertook an in-depth analysis of demand and capacity for an emergency department in the UK. The paper describes this rigorous approach to capacity planning, which draws on techniques from other industries.Discussion And ConclusionsProper capacity planning is vital, but is often poorly done. Planning using aggregated data will lead to inadequate capacity. Understanding demand, and particularly the variation in that demand, is critical to success. Analysis of emergency department demand and capacity is the first step towards effective workforce planning and process redesign.

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