❓ Hon Adele Farina questions the Department of Health regarding the formula used to determine bed numbers in country hospitals, identifying discrepancies between required and actual bed counts. The Department's response details a complex modelling process and explains variations due to factors like seasonal demand and hospital capacity.
AnsweredQoN 4285Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Health Western Australia Public Hospital Activity - Country beds and Inpatient Mental Health Units bed numbers data, and ask -
(1) What is the formula used by the Department of Health to determine bed numbers needed at a country hospital?
(2) For each of the country hospitals listed on the website, which hospitals have less than the number of beds required under the formula?
(3) For each hospital listed in (2), what is the shortfall of beds?
(4) For each hospital listed on the website, which hospitals have more than the number of beds required under the formula?
(5) For each hospital listed in (3), what is the oversupply of beds?
(1) What is the formula used by the Department of Health to determine bed numbers needed at a country hospital?
(2) For each of the country hospitals listed on the website, which hospitals have less than the number of beds required under the formula?
(3) For each hospital listed in (2), what is the shortfall of beds?
(4) For each hospital listed on the website, which hospitals have more than the number of beds required under the formula?
(5) For each hospital listed in (3), what is the oversupply of beds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
49 days
(1) The Department of Health (DOH) uses a complex modelling process to project the future inpatient activity based on community need. This modelling underpinned the Clinical Services Framework (CSF) and the future bed numbers within the CSF, and also informs the capital planning for WA Country Health Service (WACHS) hospitals. Each year this modelling process is updated and reviewed based on the availability of new data and ongoing consultations with clinical networks and providers.
Within the modelling the number of future beds needed is derived by dividing the length of stay (bed days) by the number of days in the year by the occupancy rate. Different occupancy rates are based on the type of clinical activity and the size of the hospital. For example, obstetrics uses a different occupancy rate compared with mental health.
The following formulas provide a guide based on medical/surgical activity:
- Bunbury Hospital uses an 85% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.85.
- Other Regional Resource Centres use an 80% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.80.
- Integrated District Health Services use a 75% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.75.
The 2007/08 bed numbers published within the CSF relate to the physical capacity of the hospital.
In instances where the modelling projects that additional beds will be required, they are reflected in the 2014/15 and 2020/21 CSF bed numbers, if there is development planned for these hospitals.
In instances where the modelling projects that fewer beds will be required, the 2014/15 and 2020/21 CSF bed numbers remain at the 2007/08 level as this is the physical capacity of the hospital.
(2) The bed numbers listed on the
DOH Western Australia Public Hospital Activity - Country beds and Inpatient Mental Health Units
website reflect the community need and demand (the beds allocated for use by hospital patients) rather than the physical capacity of the facilities.
There may be additional beds that are available for use, but have been closed in the short term for reasons such as:
- seasonal demand;
- clinical reasons (such as safety, elective workloads and visiting specialist rotations);
- infection control;
- maintenance requirements or capital works;
- workforce availability.
For example, Broome is currently undergoing redevelopment so the available bed numbers are variable. As a result, the bed numbers may vary between months when the website is updated.
In comparison, the bed numbers published in the CSF relate to the physical capacity of the hospital and so are not directly comparable to the bed numbers published on the website at any one point in time. Due to these definitional differences the indication of a shortfall or oversupply of beds for any given facility may be misleading.
Comparing the bed numbers published on the website as at 31 May 2011 with the 2007/08 physical capacity bed numbers published in the CSF, the following hospitals currently have fewer beds:
Kalgoorlie
Albany
Bunbury
Esperance
Derby
Newman
Nickol Bay
Katanning
Carnarvon
Busselton
Margaret River
Collie
Warren
Northam
Merredin
Narrogin
(3) The difference of beds of the hospitals listed in (2) is:
Kalgoorlie - 10 beds
Albany - 7 beds
Bunbury - 11 beds
Esperance - 9 beds
Derby - 8 beds
Newman - 4 beds
Nickol Bay - 12 beds
Katanning - 12 beds
Carnarvon - 6 beds
Busselton - 9 beds
Margaret River - 6 beds
Collie - 11 beds
Warren - 8 beds
Northam - 5 beds
Merredin - 6 beds
Narrogin - 7 beds
As previously mentioned, this difference of beds does not relate to the physical capacity of these hospitals.
(4) Comparing the bed numbers published on the website as at 31 May 2011 with the 2007/08 physical capacity bed numbers published in the CSF, the following hospitals currently have more beds:
Broome
Hedland
Geraldton
(5) The difference of beds of the hospitals listed in (4) is:
Broome - 5 beds
Hedland - 1 bed
Geraldton - 3 beds
In the CSF each of these hospitals increases in bed numbers between 2007/08 and 2014/15. On the website the bed numbers of Geraldton currently match those of the 2014/15 CSF, while the other hospitals are below those of the 2014/15 CSF.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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Within the modelling the number of future beds needed is derived by dividing the length of stay (bed days) by the number of days in the year by the occupancy rate. Different occupancy rates are based on the type of clinical activity and the size of the hospital. For example, obstetrics uses a different occupancy rate compared with mental health.
The following formulas provide a guide based on medical/surgical activity:
- Bunbury Hospital uses an 85% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.85.
- Other Regional Resource Centres use an 80% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.80.
- Integrated District Health Services use a 75% occupancy rate= length of stay (bed days) / 365/0.75.
The 2007/08 bed numbers published within the CSF relate to the physical capacity of the hospital.
In instances where the modelling projects that additional beds will be required, they are reflected in the 2014/15 and 2020/21 CSF bed numbers, if there is development planned for these hospitals.
In instances where the modelling projects that fewer beds will be required, the 2014/15 and 2020/21 CSF bed numbers remain at the 2007/08 level as this is the physical capacity of the hospital.
(2) The bed numbers listed on the
DOH Western Australia Public Hospital Activity - Country beds and Inpatient Mental Health Units
website reflect the community need and demand (the beds allocated for use by hospital patients) rather than the physical capacity of the facilities.
There may be additional beds that are available for use, but have been closed in the short term for reasons such as:
- seasonal demand;
- clinical reasons (such as safety, elective workloads and visiting specialist rotations);
- infection control;
- maintenance requirements or capital works;
- workforce availability.
For example, Broome is currently undergoing redevelopment so the available bed numbers are variable. As a result, the bed numbers may vary between months when the website is updated.
In comparison, the bed numbers published in the CSF relate to the physical capacity of the hospital and so are not directly comparable to the bed numbers published on the website at any one point in time. Due to these definitional differences the indication of a shortfall or oversupply of beds for any given facility may be misleading.
Comparing the bed numbers published on the website as at 31 May 2011 with the 2007/08 physical capacity bed numbers published in the CSF, the following hospitals currently have fewer beds:
Kalgoorlie
Albany
Bunbury
Esperance
Derby
Newman
Nickol Bay
Katanning
Carnarvon
Busselton
Margaret River
Collie
Warren
Northam
Merredin
Narrogin
(3) The difference of beds of the hospitals listed in (2) is:
Kalgoorlie - 10 beds
Albany - 7 beds
Bunbury - 11 beds
Esperance - 9 beds
Derby - 8 beds
Newman - 4 beds
Nickol Bay - 12 beds
Katanning - 12 beds
Carnarvon - 6 beds
Busselton - 9 beds
Margaret River - 6 beds
Collie - 11 beds
Warren - 8 beds
Northam - 5 beds
Merredin - 6 beds
Narrogin - 7 beds
As previously mentioned, this difference of beds does not relate to the physical capacity of these hospitals.
(4) Comparing the bed numbers published on the website as at 31 May 2011 with the 2007/08 physical capacity bed numbers published in the CSF, the following hospitals currently have more beds:
Broome
Hedland
Geraldton
(5) The difference of beds of the hospitals listed in (4) is:
Broome - 5 beds
Hedland - 1 bed
Geraldton - 3 beds
In the CSF each of these hospitals increases in bed numbers between 2007/08 and 2014/15. On the website the bed numbers of Geraldton currently match those of the 2014/15 CSF, while the other hospitals are below those of the 2014/15 CSF.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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