Brough, Richard (1985) The design and construction of a decision-support system for planning local hospital services. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This research addressed a major and widespread problem in the
NHS: information for operational planning. The approach has been to
analyse the needs of management in this field in a particular health
district and to develop a system in response to these needs of use
in the particular District and generally in the NHS. The emphasis had
been on the identification and quantification of relationships between
elements of the District important to corporate planning, so that the
feasibility and effects of planning choices can be assessed. Particular
attention has been paid to the attitudes, values and concerns of senior
managers and doctors in the NHS throughout the project.
Research began in October 1979 on the development of a database
and model of the former North East District of KCWAHA. This health
district contained a large undergraduate teaching hospital (The
Middlesex), two large psychiatric hospitals, and several smaller
specialist hospitals.
The purpose of the decision-support system is to enable management
to explore rapidly the implications of operational planning optlons over
several years. It does not recommend which option should be followed.
Plans are tested in terms of the bed capacity of general wards and
specialist units. The revenue costs of an option are estimated using
a detailed analysis of which types of change cause which types of
cost to vary within the District.
The model then assesses the non-financial consequences for the
operating theatres and service departments, and the effects on nurse
training. The research has shown that it is feasible to build and maintain such a model and database with very limited clerical
support. The output from the system has been found useful by
management. This development has generated considerable support for
further research.
The assumptions of the model and the procedures for updating the
database are fully documented. Procedures for implementing the system
in another health district are also available. The model runs on
the computer at Imperial College, University of London. The research
programme continues with the extension of the model to cover the whole
of the new Bloomsbury District (including University College Hospital),
where the use of the system has had a substantial impact on decisionmaking
at the most senior level.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Electronic computers. Computer science. Computer software R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Strategic planning -- Computer programs, Great Britain. National Health Service -- Administration -- Computer programs, Medical care -- Great Britain -- Administration -- Computer programs, Decision support systems
Official Date:	February 1985
Dates:	Date Event February 1985 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Industrial and Business Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Bevan, Gwyn
Sponsors:	Science Research Council (Great Britain) (SRC)
Extent:	352 leaves
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/34791

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