The objective of this study was to ascertain factors which determine the length of stay in relation to adult patients admitted for hernia surgery in two different hospitals. It was conducted prospectively on a total of 141 patients, 82 in a central hospital and 59 in a district hospital. There were no significant differences with regard to age, sex, type of hernia, pre-existing disease and postoperative complications. There was a significant difference between the average length of stay in the two hospitals (6.7 days in the central hospital and 3.9 days in the district hospital). There was a longer pre-operative stay in the central hospital through administrative problems, availability of operating time and admission for pre-operative investigations. In the postoperative period there was a significant difference between the day of operation and the time the surgeon stated that the patient could be discharged (i.e. the surgically advised discharge (SAD) date). This period was 4 days at the central hospital, as against 2 days at the district hospital. Once the SAD date was determined, there was no difference between the two hospitals with regard to placement. Consideration should be given to improving admission practices, including patient 'work-up' in the preadmission phase and to shortening the postoperative stay after hernia surgery.