A PROBE into the way health boards plan and manage hospital capacity has been launched in Scotland.
NHS managers across the country have been asked about how they are forecasting the number of hospital beds they will need in future.
The Scottish Government is undertaking the research amid concern about how well hospitals are coping with demand.
Last winter hundreds of patients had to wait for more than 12 hours in A&E departments because of bed shortages on the wards and boarding - where patients have to be housed in the wrong hospital ward for their medical problem due to lack of space - continues to cause controversy.
The Herald has been campaigning for a review of capacity within the NHS and care sector and a clear plan showing what is required to look after the growing elderly population.
Figures published yesterday revealed the number of acute hospital beds increased by 182 (1.1%) this December compared to a year earlier, reversing a previous decline. However, the total number of hospital beds including rehabilitation units, community and psychiatric hospitals showed a further cut of 172 beds to 23,204.
Guidelines on bed planning are being drawn-up by the Scottish Government. The responses health boards submit to the survey will be used to share good practice.
Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "We are developing a bed-planning toolkit to help health boards to ensure they have the right number of beds in the right place and at the right time. I am pleased to see that work on this important toolkit is moving forward."
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