The current study started in 2009 in response to what was perceived by senior nurses as inaccuracies in occupied bed days and occupancy data.
In addition, to clarify how the related issue of occupancy is calculated, initial discussions were held with divisional Business Managers and subsequently with a senior Financial Manager to determine where they sourced their information about occupied bed days and occupancy data for their monthly financial reports.
On the other hand, business managers advised the data source for occupied bed days, and therefore the occupancy rate, is generated from the hospital's Patient Information System.
Databases enabled medical bed days to be analysed separately for admissions, discharges and occupied bed days. These databases included the age, GP practice and postal code for each patient.
Medical admissions and occupied bed days for elderly residents of Oxfordshire and the neighbouring health authority were tabulated separately for each practice within each hospital.