This thesis is a study of the daily working routine of a hospital X-Ray
department, and it describes the empirical variation observed in a real
department by the use of mathematical models| these models may be used to
predict the effects of changes in departmental operating policy, thereby
leading to a more effective use of the available resources*
An outline is made of the working procedures of a typical X-Ray
department, and there is also a survey of the literature. The various types
of variability to be observed are described, together with some efficiency
measures which may be adopted* In Chapter k the results of survey work in
the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh are presented in the form of an analysis of
the work-load on the X-Ray department, with respect to its constitution,
origin and distribution over the X-Ray facilities* An investigation is made
into the relationship between the time to perform a given examination, and
the age, sex and mobility of the patient* It was found that considerable
differences exist between the service time distributions of patients with
different characteristics, and these were later used to consider if improvements in efficiency might result by dealing with patients in homogeneous
groups* A number of comments are made on particular problem areas in the
Royal Infirmary
