We have modelled how many beds we need by looking at the increase we may need based on older population and likely population growth.
We then looked at how medicine is changing and how technology is being used to shorten the length of time people need to spend in hospital and also the move to treat people in their own homes. A few years ago people undergoing a knee replacement would stay in hospital after their operation for between three and five days but now increasing numbers of patients go home on the same day as the operation.
When we put together the changes in the population needs and the changes in technologies, treatments and the way services are delivered we have calculated that we will need the same number of beds in the future as we do now.