There was an increase of 13% in the number of day cases between 2001 and 2002. The number of day cases is an important international benchmark in terms of the modernity of any system. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of day cases over the last decade, the last five years in particular. It is now estimated that in the academic teaching hospitals in Dublin alone 58% of all cases are now dealt with on a day case basis. This is illustrative of the progress made in terms of increased productivity and modernisation.