Fundamental concepts in demand and capacity

There are a number of fundamental concepts that underpin our understanding of demand and capacity. You may also be interested in our patient videos and training offer.

Case for change animation

This animation explores why demand and capacity modelling is an important tool for many people involved in providing services to patients.

Patients will wait longer to be seen if the variation in both demand and in capacity are not understood as well as the interplay between them.

Percentiles

Statistical Process Control (SPC)

• Online variation game
• Improving patient flow – Provides access to the computer models developed by Richard Steyn
• Advanced forecasting techniques

Patients will wait longer to be seen if the waiting list size for a service is too big.

Ideal waiting list size

• Department of Health: referral to treatment consultant-led waiting times – good practice guidelines

We have created a guide for commissioners to help sense check the demand and capacity work of others.

You may also be interested in the following tools and techniques in demand and capacity modelling which were first introduced by NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

These are now hosted on the National Archives site:

• Demand and Capacity: basic concepts
• Demand and Capacity: a comprehensive guide
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) – SPC is a practical statistical approach to resolving problems