Hospital Admissions - Definitions

Data are taken from the national Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR01), which records information on hospital inpatient and day case discharges from general/acute specialties (excludes obstetric and psychiatric specialties).  An SMR01 is completed each time a patient is discharged from an episode of care (see the data dictionary for a summary of rules ).  Within each episode of care it is possible to record up to 6 diagnosis codes and 4 procedure codes.  The analyses presented within this section are based only on main diagnosis and main procedure.   Diagnoses are recorded using the International Classification of Diseases and related health problems - tenth revision (ICD 10) and operations are coded using the Office for Populations Census and Surveys Version 4th Revision (OPCS 4).

Admission Types

Elective (planned) - this is also referred to as a waiting list admission.  An elective admission occurs when a patient is on an inpatient or day case waiting list and is admitted to hospital as planned.

Emergency - this is a serious occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action.  The patient may or may not be admitted through Accident and Emergency.

Inpatient - an inpatient is a patient who occupies an available staffed bed in a hospital and remains overnight whatever the original intention OR - at admission, is expected to remain overnight but is discharged earlier.

Day case - a day case is a patient who makes a planned attendance and requires the use of a bed or trolley in lieu of a bed.  The patient is not expected to, and does not, remain overnight.

Diagnostic and Procedure methodology

Diagnostic - Tables 2 and 3 have been derived using diagnostic groupings from the Electronic Scottish Consultant Review of Inpatient Statistics (eSCRIPS) system.  The eSCRIPS system has been in existence for a number of years and was developed in conjunction with clinicians around Scotland.  All diagnostic and procedure classifications have had clinical input and are considered to be fairly comprehensive.  A list of ICD10 codes that make up each of the groupings can be found at  ICD10 codes .

Procedure - Table 4 has been derived using a combination of the eSCRIPS classifications and additional groupings derived by ISD.  Only the most common set of procedures have been shown within this table.  However, for further information on the types of operations included within the 'Other procedures' group please contact the Child Health Information Team.