Fig. 4.3
Average length of stay, acute care hospitals only
Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2015.
The average length of stay in acute care hospitals steadily declined between
2000 and 2011, as seen in Figure 4.3, from 8.1 to 6.5 days. This follows a general
trend of decreasing average length of stay across Europe. Average length of
stay in the United Kingdom has consistently been above the EU average, but
in 2011, the most recent year available, the number was nearly identical, as the
average length of stay in the EU was 6.4 bed days. Bed occupancy rates have
remained stable throughout the early 2000s, increasing from 82.3% in 2000
to 84.4% in 2010. These rates are consistently above those of other European
countries and the EU average, suggesting limited spare capacity. In England
the combination of reduced beds and high occupancy rates, coupled with the
increasing demands of an ageing population and cuts to social care, is thought
to have contributed to longer A&E waiting times towards the end of 2014 and
into 2015 (Edwards, 2015).
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EU members since May 2004
EU members before May 2004
EU
United Kingdom
Sweden
Germany
France