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Waiting lists, waiting times and admissions: an empirical analysis at hospital and general practice level

Author

Listed:
  • Frank Windmeijer

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Bristol)

  • Hugh Gravelle

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Pierre Hoonhout

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

We report an empirical analysis of the responses of the supply and demand for secondary care to waiting list size and waiting times. Whereas previous empirical analyses have used data aggregated to area level, our analysis is novel in that it focuses on the supply responses of a single hospital and the demand responses of the GP practices it serves, and distinguishes between outpatient visits, inpatient admissions, daycase treatment and emergency admissions. The results are plausible and in line with the theoretical model. For example: the demand from practices for outpatient visits is negatively affected by waiting times and distance to the hospital. Increases in waiting times and waiting lists lead to increases in supply; the supply of elective inpatient admissions is affected negatively by current emergency admissions and positively by lagged waiting list and waiting time. We use the empirical results to investigate the dynamic responses to one off policy measures to reduce waiting times and lists by increasing supply.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Windmeijer & Hugh Gravelle & Pierre Hoonhout, 2004. "Waiting lists, waiting times and admissions: an empirical analysis at hospital and general practice level," IFS Working Papers W04/35, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
  • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:04/35
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Frank Windmeijer & Hugh Gravelle & Pierre Hoonhout, 2005. "Waiting lists, waiting times and admissions: an empirical analysis at hospital and general practice level," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(9), pages 971-985, September.
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    9. repec:rus:hseeco:122140 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Martin, Stephen & Smith, Peter C., 1999. "Rationing by waiting lists: an empirical investigation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 141-164, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Peter Sivey, 2018. "Should I stay or should I go? Hospital emergency department waiting times and demand," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(3), pages 30-42, March.
    3. Rodríguez-Álvarez, Ana & Rosete-Rivero, Mayte, 2017. "Spanish public hospital waiting lists: A theoretical and empirical approach," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 11, pages 1-21.
    4. Peter Sivey, 2012. "The effect of waiting time and distance on hospital choice for English cataract patients," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(4), pages 444-456, April.
    5. Callum Brindley & James Lomas & Luigi Siciliani, 2023. "The effect of hospital spending on waiting times," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(11), pages 2427-2445, November.
    6. Windrum, Paul & Garci­a-Goñi, Manuel, 2008. "A neo-Schumpeterian model of health services innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 649-672, May.
    7. Fabrizio Iacone & Steve Martin & Luigi Siciliani & Peter C. Smith, 2012. "Modelling the dynamics of a public health care system: evidence from time-series data," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(23), pages 2955-2968, August.
    8. Helen Hayes & Rachel Meacock & Jonathan Stokes & Matt Sutton, 2024. "How do family doctors respond to reduced waiting times for cancer diagnosis in secondary care?," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 25(5), pages 813-828, July.
    9. Luca Armanaschi & Elisabetta Barzan & Magda Cavallucci & Carlo Federici & Marco Sartirana & Florian Zerzer, 2022. "I dati amministrativi per la governance dei tempi di attesa delle prestazioni ambulatoriali: l?esperienza dell?Azienda Sanitaria dell?Alto Adige," MECOSAN, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(123), pages 53-75.
    10. Martin, Stephen & Rice, Nigel & Jacobs, Rowena & Smith, Peter, 2007. "The market for elective surgery: Joint estimation of supply and demand," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 263-285, March.
    11. Frank Windmeijer & Hugh Gravelle & Pierre Hoonhout, 2005. "Waiting lists, waiting times and admissions: an empirical analysis at hospital and general practice level," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(9), pages 971-985, September.
    12. Christine A. Yee & Kyle Barr & Taeko Minegishi & Austin Frakt & Steven D. Pizer, 2022. "Provider supply and access to primary care," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(7), pages 1296-1316, July.
    13. Goddard, John & Tavakoli, Manouche, 2008. "Efficiency and welfare implications of managed public sector hospital waiting lists," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 184(2), pages 778-792, January.
    14. Gravelle, Hugh & Schroyen, Fred, 2020. "Optimal hospital payment rules under rationing by waiting," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    waiting time; waiting list; hospital admissions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods

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