Hospital Episode Statistics provide a unique opportunity to study hospital catchment areas in relation to specific treatments and enable measurements of ‘market penetration’ – something becoming more relevant under the new NHS Patient Choice directive which allows patients more choice over where they are treated

• Hospital Episode Statistics provide a unique opportunity to study hospital catchment areas in relation to specific treatments and enable measurements of ‘market penetration’ – something becoming more relevant under the new NHS Patient Choice directive which allows patients more choice over where they are treated

• Spatial interaction modelling will enable analyses of the frictional effect of distance on the ‘commute’ to hospital, and the testing of ‘what if’ scenarios in relation to the opening and closing of hospitals

• Optimum locations for new hospitals or treatment centres in relation to demand could be explored through location-allocation modelling