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NHS Bed-blockers are taking up two wards in each hospital

By
Sophie Borland


PUBLISHED:

18:02 EST, 23 July 2013

|

UPDATED:

02:42 EST, 24 July 2013

An average of two wards in every hospital is taken up by elderly patients who cannot be discharged because of a lack of care at home, it has emerged.

Up to 5,000 patients across 160 NHS trusts are so-called bed-blockers – and are now the ‘single biggest pressure’ on delays in AE, a report by MPs reveals.

Cuts to council social care have been blamed for restricting care home places and delaying the provision of help for older people in their own homes.

Britain's ageing population means rising numbers of elderly people inevitably require treatment

Britain’s ageing population means rising numbers of elderly people inevitably require treatment

Stroke sufferers, for example, must have a stairlift at home and arrangements for carers to visit before they are discharged.

Health minister Earl Howe has claimed that more than 2,000 of all 104,000 NHS beds are occupied by patients well enough to go home – but MPs believe this is an underestimate.

Hospitals commonly have between 20 and 50 wards. At the lower figure, as many as 1 in 10 beds would be occupied by patients waiting to go home.

The report by the Commons health select committee warns that frail patients kept unnecessarily in hospital may also ‘deteriorate’ – for instance, if they suffer a fall or infection.

A new report says that two wards in every hospital are taken up by elderly patients who cannot be discharged because of a lack of care at home

A new report says that two wards in every hospital are taken up by elderly patients who cannot be discharged because of a lack of care at home (file picture)

It also says vital medical records can be lost when patients are routinely moved about within a hospital to make room for others.

The document adds: ‘In the last few months, nearly all the chief executives have said they have approximately two wards full of people who could be discharged but they are not able to discharge.’

It is estimated that the NHS spends £200million a year looking after patients in hospital who should be at home.

A report by the NHS Confederation last year found that nine in ten health service managers believe the problem has got worse due to financial cuts.

But managers have repeatedly urged hospital staff not to refer to such patients as ‘bed blockers’ as it is derogatory and implies they are at fault.

 

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The comments below have not been moderated.

The whole point is that WE are paying health managers and council managers vastly inflated salaries/pensions. they are not delivering the goods here and they should hang their heads in shame. Stand aside you career “managers” and let anyone else do what you are clearly incapable of. It is our health service and you are fired.

stevie
,

soton,
24/7/2013 19:48

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Silence on privatization, yet will report on negative press against the NHS daily, not rocket science is it folks?

Anonymous
,

London, United Kingdom,
24/7/2013 19:04

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wELL i DON’T KNOW HOW THE PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT A DRAMATIC CHANGE TO THE SYSTEM. IT IS SAD THE WAY THINGS ARE BUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE?

Advocate of Lucifer
,

UK, United Kingdom,
24/7/2013 18:54

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What a disparaging term! Bed blockers indeed! And I thought the DM was all for dignified treatment of the elderly and infirm. Just lip service, obviously.

SilverLady
,

SilverCity,
24/7/2013 18:53

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“girl in the country” heaven forbid you opened your own doors and invited your father in to the arms of his family for the last few years of his life.

JDRoest
,

Mobile, United States,
24/7/2013 18:34

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Not health tourists of course

Dave
,

Farnborough, United Kingdom,
24/7/2013 18:07

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For a newspaper that writes patronising headlines along the lines of “Incontinent man urinates in OWN pad!” and “Elderly woman left on BED at NIGHT!” then has a box in the middle saying “Dignity for the Elderly Campaign,” you kind of have a nerve laying into “Bed-blockers” for being old. Yes, “Medically Fit For Discharge” patients, to use the hospital term, are predominantly 70+ but encompass a wide variety of ages and social problems – it basically means the well patient does not have adequate care facilities at home. This may also include young adults who are homeless or have psychiatric problems, children who need to go into care and a patient of any age who is disabled.

Coco Damol
,

London, United Kingdom,
24/7/2013 17:55

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Anyone over the age of 80 should automatically have a ‘do not resuscitate’ note attached to their notes.

Dave23
,

Bromley,
24/7/2013 17:54

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Sorry folks but this is nothing new!! The last 30 or 40 odd years maybe………!

Janey
,

London,
24/7/2013 17:54

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Thornburylady – you know nothing about the LCP. You are ignorant and should perhaps read up on it before commenting.

guess
,

city,
24/7/2013 17:48

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