Table 1 Routine data measuring the effectiveness of the new approach

	4 July–2 October 2005	3 July–1 October 2006	Change (%)
ED attendances (n)	17105	18553	8.5
MAU direct admissions (n)	1931	0	N/A
Total emergency attendances (ED + MAU) (n)	19036	18553	−2.5%
Emergency medical admissions (n)	3667	3068	−16.3
Bed days for admitted emergency medical patients (n)	30212	30861	2.1
Median (mean) length of stay for emergency medical admissions (days)	7 (8.2)	5 (10.0)	N/A	z = −7.609
	7 (8.2)	5 (10.0)	N/A	p<0.001
Emergency surgical admissions (n)	4047	3889	−3.9
Bed days for admitted emergency surgical patients (n)	15043	16413	9.1
Median (mean) length of stay for emergency surgical admissions (days)	1 (3.7)	1 (4.2)	N/A	z = −3.779
	1 (3.7)	1 (4.2)	N/A	p<0.001
Elective surgical admission patients discharged within 1 day (n)	908	1024	12.8
Elective surgical admission patients discharged at 1–3 days (n)	1224	1186	−3.1
Elective surgical admission patients staying >3 days (n)	898	871	−2.1
Emergency paediatric admissions	408	421	3.1
Total number of bed days for admitted emergency paediatric patients	2074	2636	27.1
Median (mean) length of stay for emergency paediatric admissions (days)	2 (5.1)	2 (6.3)	N/A	z = 1.419
	2 (5.1)	2 (6.3)	N/A	p = 0.16
ED attendances in triage category 1, 2 or 3	24.6%	24.6%	0