Trends in acute admissions: a study of one English district general hospital

The aim of the study was to determine whether significant daily and hourly variations in acute admissions to hospital were evident over time, and to determine whether significant changes in patient and management characteristics had occurred over time.

Time-trend and cross-section analysis of admissions was carried out, for samples between 1986 and 1995, using manual records from the transit ward, Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

Mean daily admissions at weekends were significantly lower than those occurring during the working week. During the day, the admission rate peaked at around noon and gradually declined thereafter. Patients arriving during the night tended to be younger and were more likely to be male. Age was a significant predictor of subsequent patient management following arrival. Overall, the number and mean age of arriving patients had increased by the end of the investigation period, although the proportion of patients being sent home from the transit ward did not vary over time.