Geographical access to critical care services in Scotland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Critical illness requires specialist and timely management. The aim of this study was to create a geographic accessibility profile of the Scottish population to emergency departments and intensive care units.

Methods

This was a descriptive, geographical analysis of population access to 'intermediate' and 'definitive' critical care services in Scotland. Access was defined by the number of people able to reach services within 45 to 60 min, by road and by helicopter. Access was analysed by health board, rurality and as a country using freely available geographically referenced population data.

Results

Ninety-six percent of the population reside within a 45-min drive of the nearest intermediate critical care facility, and 94% of the population live within a 45-

SUBMITTER: Emerson P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5810871 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature