Utilisation of Health Services Project Hospital Study Report of Pilot Stage

The Hospital Study forms one of three related studies which are currently being undertaken by the Health Services Research Unit as part of the Utilisation of Health Services project. The basic objective of the Hospital Study is to examine the causes of the higher rate of hospital use by

non-married compared with married people. More specifically, it is hoped to determine how much of the higher rate of use of hospital beds by non-married persons is appropriate to their medical needs, reflecting (for whatever reason) a greater need for hospital care, and how much is due to the differential distribution between married and non-married patients of circumstances that would enable adequate care to be given outside the hospital.