Situation
A Foundation Trust Hospital was challenged to maintain safe, efficient and effective planned care (elective care) during a period of significant increases in emergency admissions
Action
A task force was established to separate the Emergency and Elective (planned ) admissions including the establishment of a dedicated Elective Surgical ward and an expanded Emergency Assessment Unit
Result
Reductions in Average Length of Stay, reductions in Long Length of stay of over 14 days and very significant reductions in the number of patients staying on wards not corresponding to their Condition (outliers). These changes were sustained over time this improved the quality of care and the efficiency of the hospital.
