Citation

Downing A, Wilson R. J. Public Health (Oxford) 2004.

Affiliation

Research Fellow, Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/pubmed/fdh190

PMID

15564278

Abstract

Information is collected on every patient that attends accident and emergency (A & E). However, there is currently no central collection of these data. In 1999 it was decided to collect data on all A & E attendances in the West Midlands region. All 21 hospitals with 24 h A & E departments were asked to submit data to the Surveillance Centre at the University of Birmingham. To date, 19 hospitals have submitted data but the formats vary leading to a substantial amount of data processing. There are several limitations to the data set, for example a lack of information on the reasons for attendance. Despite this, routinely collected A & E data have great potential for surveillance and the data have been used in original research and to guide local policy. The West Midlands system is the largest source of A&E data in the United Kingdom. This information is of use to a wide range of organizations.