Statistics on Patient Journeys: Hospital Outpatient Activity in 2005-06

Key facts

In 2005-06, the data show around 14.9 million first outpatient attendances. Of these 8.7 million resulted from GP referral, 1.0 million from referral from an accident and emergency department, 2.5 million from other consultants, and the remainder from other sources.
For 77 per cent of first attendances, the patient was referred to this appointment for advice/consultation, with only 4 per cent referred for a specific procedure. The reason for the referral of the remainder is unknown or unstated.
Of the 14.9 million first outpatient attendances, around 4.5 million resulted in the patient being discharged from the consultant's care, 9.6 million referred for another appointment with the remainder resulting in another outcome.
There were 35.0 million subsequent outpatient attendances with 5.9 million of these occurring in the 65-74 age group.
Trauma and orthopaedics accounted for the highest proportion of activity with 14 per cent of first attendances.
Overall, there was a ratio of 2.3 outpatient follow up attendances to every first attendance. These ratios varied by age, with a maximum of 3.1 follow up outpatient attendances for every first attendance for the 75-84 age group.
Almost all attendances were on weekdays; with fewer on Fridays than on other weekdays.