Improving how hospitals forecast unplanned admissions
Research summary
Balancing demand for beds and other resources is a challenge for many hospitals. Hospitals can plan care more effectively if forecasting is improved. To forecast both long and short-term demand North Bristol Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, looks at demand in previous years to forecast for the future. We wanted to compare the forecasting tool already used by the Trust with a new, more accurate forecasting model.