Optimising the queuing system for an ear, nose and throat outpatient clinic

Several authors have considered the problem of the efficient running of hospital outpatient clinics. The first solution was probably by Welch & Bailey (1952). More recent authors include Fetter & Thompson (1966), Vissers (1979), Stafford & Aggarwal (1979). The Ear, Nose and Throat outpatient clinic presents a special case due to the complex queuing structure involved, which is described in the next section. A simulation of this special clinic was undertaken, any useful theoretical results being impossible to obtain.