Abstract
Monitoring the performance of health services has now become official policy (Department of Health and Social Security, 1971). At present hospital management has available to it the largest body of data of any part of the total health system. The Hospital In-Patient Enquiry, the Annual Hospital Returns, and Hospital Activity Analysis all can and do contribute in this respect. But is it possible for these three interdependent sources to serve the varying and often competing needs of administrators, accountants, medical 'cogwheel' (Ministry of Health, 1967) managers, and clinicians? Equally, although they are a source of valuable research information are they exploited enough? A review of these three sources is therefore opportune in order to consider the aims and objects of each and the extent to which these have been achieved, to examine their accuracy, other uses, and limitations, and to assess the needs for changes or additions to the data or their presentation to meet the needs for the future.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.