What factors influence waiting times
The length of time a patient may wait for admission is influenced by several factors such as:
- The clinical urgency category assigned
- The type of treatment and availability of specialists
- The capacity of the hospital
- The time of the year - for example, many patients would prefer not to receive treatment during holiday periods. Emergency patients will continue to receive treatment.
- The number of emergency presentations to the facility
- The number of medical admissions - for example, an increase in respiratory conditions during winter months
- The number of patients already on the waiting list
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