View on patients

Where do the numbers come from?

Patients per age group over time
The figures on the number of admitted patients in the hospital and the ICU are supplied by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). This data is available in the form of an open data file.

• Download the csv-file with RIVM’s open data file on hospital admissions
• Read RIVM’s description of the data set on hospital admissions
• Download the csv-file with RIVM’s open data file on ICU admissions
• Read RIVM’s description of the data set on ICU admissions

How are the numbers calculated?

RIVM uses data collected by Stichting NICE (the National Intensive Care Evaluation Registry). Stichting NICE registers the number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU and regular wards. The number of hospital admissions refers to patients admitted to regular wards as well as those admitted directly to the ICU. Patients can also be admitted outside their region.

The dashboard shows the average number of people with COVID-19 admitted daily to hospital, including the ICU. It is a seven-day rolling average. Because the data for the most recent days is incomplete, they are not used in calculating the seven-day rolling average. The graph ‘Hospital admissions over time’ shows the actual number of hospital admissions (including ICU admissions) by admission date, as well as the seven-day rolling average.

The map with numbers per municipality based on date of admission. Although there are often reporting delays, they are offset by the admission numbers from previous days, which are included. Therefore the map still provides a good overall picture of daily hospital admissions.

The numbers are relative (per 100,000 inhabitants) because of the different number of inhabitants per municipality. The admissions are often reported a few days later.

Differences between the figures LCPS and NICE

Since October 2020, the LCPS has also been collecting figures on new hospital admissions.There are differences between the LCPS and NICE registration systems. The LCPS system focuses on bed occupancy (capacity), the NICE system on patients. An increase in occupancy only says something about the number of new patients. For example, a bed is not immediately available when a patient is discharged. It is also possible that one bed is occupied by several patients during the day. Both data collections therefore contain different data and serve different purposes. The numbers are not interchangeable.

Adjustments and corrections

Up to 16 December 2020 the dashboard used data from the OSIRIS database, which is provided primarily by the municipal health services (GGDs). However, OSIRIS suffers from significant underreporting of hospital admissions as the GGDs are no longer always informed when COVID-19 patients are admitted to hospital. The NICE data set is more complete, but its definition of ‘hospital admission’ is also broader. Whereas the OSIRIS data set includes only patients admitted to hospital due to COVID-19, the NICE data set also includes hospital patients who have COVID-19 but who were admitted for another reason.

Correction
Due to a correction in the registration system of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital (region Dordrecht), 355 hospital admissions and 30 ICU admissions spread over the period from January 1, 2021 to July 27, 2021 were incorrectly reported. The numbers are lower in reality. The numbers are retroactively updated on the dashboard on July 28, 2021.

Location of admitted patients
Until 24 November 2021, the figures were based on the reporting date (hospital admissions reported to the NICE Foundation in one day). From 25 November 2021, the dashboard uses figures based on admission date (the date the patient was admitted to hospital).