Why is this HEAT target important?
This target supports the Efficiency and Productivity Programme aimed at improving the efficiency of NHSScotland. This target has led to improved efficiency within NHSScotland by improving patient flow through the system and by ensuring that effective discharge planning is in place.
How are we performing?
Target due for delivery in 2010/11
The target is to achieve a reduction of the average length of stay per hospital episode (for acute inpatients discharged following an urgent, emergency or other non-routine, unplanned admission) to 3.9 days by 2010/11. The average length of stay for the year ending March 2010 was 3.7 days, compared to 3.8 days for the year ending March 2009.
Due to the ongoing issues relating to the supply of complete and comprehensive hospital activity data from a number of NHS Boards, ISD Scotland are currently unable to publish its detailed annual Acute Hospital Activity statistics for the year ending March 2011.
ISD Scotland hopes to be able to publish a wider range of annual Acute Hospital Activity information as part of its March 2012 release. Further updates regarding this situation will be reported when they are available.
The graph below shows the average length of stay for emergency inpatients since 2004/05.
NHS Board level performance and target are shown in the table below.
Non-routine (emergency) inpatients average length of stay by NHS Board, year ending March 2010 and NHS Board target
| NHS Board | Average Length of Stay 2009/10 | Target (2010/11) |
|---|
| NHS AYRSHIRE & ARRAN | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| NHS BORDERS | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| NHS DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| NHS FIFE | 2.4 | 3.4 |
| NHS FORTH VALLEY | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| NHS GRAMPIAN | 4.3 | 5.3 |
| NHS GREATER GLASGOW & CLYDE | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| NHS HIGHLAND | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| NHS LANARKSHIRE | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| NHS LOTHIAN | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| NHS ORKNEY | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| NHS SHETLAND | 5.7 | 3.5 |
| NHS TAYSIDE | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| NHS WESTERN ISLES | 9.3 | 7.8 |
| NHSSCOTLAND | 3.7 | 3.9 |
Further Information
Progress Report for Efficiency and Productivity Programme
Improvement and Support Team and Efficiency and Productivity Programme
Inpatient, Day Case & Outpatient Activity statistics
Related National Outcomes