Sample table for calculating the required physical ambulatory emergency care (AEC) capacitya
| Arrival time | No. of patients | Junior doctor time (based on 1 h per assessment) | Consultant review time (based on 15-min review) | Consultant follow-up time (based on 7.5 min) | Trolley spaces (approx. 40% of patients using trolley) | Chair or consultant room (approx. 60% of cases use chairs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08.00–12.00 | 6 | 6 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
| 12.00–16.00 | 10 | 10 | 2.5 | 1.25 | 4 | 6 |
| 16.00–20.00 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0.5 | 2 | 2 |
↵aThe table is based on 14 new AEC patients per day, and indicates a requirement of four trolley spaces and six chairs to maintain flow during peak demand.