Methodological datasheet: Acute-care hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants

Identification

Description

Acute-care hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants

Description and source 1 operation code

Specialized care statistics (030502 Basque Statistics Plan)

Description and source 2 operation code

Population Update 010142

Responsable entity

Department of Health

Availability

Year +1

Indicator formula

No of beds maintained and staffed in acute-care hospitals / Population * 100,000

Objectives

Care for the patients who need to be admitted (hospitalisation) is the main area of action of hospital care and the number of hospital beds is a basic piece of information to measure the physical resources available to hospitals to provide this key function.

The majority of this allocation (hospital beds) is in acute-care hospitals, centres where the majority of hospital care is provided and where more resources, both in terms of hospital staff and equipment, are focused.

Sphere

Population:

Public and private acute-care hospitals

Geographical Sphere:

Basque Country

Time period:

Annual

Concepts and Definitions

Bed: refers to hospitals beds used for the ongoing care of patients admitted to acute-care hospitals. Incubators and cots are included as beds, except for those used for healthy new-borns. Emergency observation beds, beds for companions and temporary beds, those used by the staff of the centre and for day hospital, special examinations, pre-anaesthesia and for other purposes are not included.

This indicator considers the beds in operation, i.e. those that have been available during the year.

The indicator is obtained as a quotient and expressed per hundred thousand inhabitants.

Numerator:

Average beds maintained and staffed in acute-care hospitals.

Denominator:

Estimated Population at mid-year * 100,000.

Codes and nomenclatures

Not applicable

Quality

The problem may be encountered that the population sources are not the same when comparing this indicator with other international bodies. The sources by each country should therefore be consulted:

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/htl_res_esms.htm

Further Information

The EUROSTAT data are available in the Population and social conditions Health folderHealth> Health care> Health care resources> Health care facilities>,

Hospital beds by function and type of care (Curative care beds in hospitals )