Epidemics of procedures: growth in admissions to hospital in Western Australia, 1972 to 1977

Admissions to hospital, associated with procedures, increased by 20% in Western Australia between 1972 and 1977. This increase in hospital-based procedures appeared to be widespread, both in terms of types of procedures and in terms of age groups of patients. For some procedures the increase was so large as to imitate an "epidemic". Manpower data indicate a parallel growth in practising clinical specialists and the increase in admissions to hospitals. Some suggestions are made about this association and possible causal factors.