Comparisons between guideline eras*
| Guideline | RCS | NICE 2003 | NICE 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period | 2000–2002* | 2004–2006* | 2009–2011* |
| Mean number of admissions per year <16 years | 33 869 | 34 712 | 36 490 |
| IRR for the admission rate (95% CI) | 1.00 | 1.04 (1.01 to 1.06) | 1.07 (1.04 to 1.10) |
| Mean number of deaths <16 years | 66 | 54 | 32 |
| IRR for the death rate (95% CI) | 1.00 | 0.82 (0.67 to 1.01) | 0.48 (0.38 to 0.62) |
| Mean number of admissions with neurosurgery per year | 127 | 141 | 123 |
| IRR for the neurosurgery rates (95% CI) | 1.00 | 1.12 (0.97 to 1.30) | 0.97 (0.83 to 1.12) |
| Proportion of admissions with a length of stay of <1 day | 39.3% | 47.4% | 56.3% |
*Comparing the last 3 years of a guidelines use to allow for implementation delays.
IRR, incidence rate ratio; NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; RCS, Royal College of Surgeons.