Alarm as union claims bed blocking in hospitals has risen by almost a THIRD
CASES of bed blocking in hospitals have risen by almost a third in five years, a union claimed yesterday.
Bed blocking in hospitals have risen by almost a third in five years
NHS patients in England who were ready to be discharged amassed 1.8 million days in hospitals in the past year, an increase of more than 430,000 compared with 2011-’12, according to a study by the GMB.
Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK said: “Cuts to council and community health budgets mean more and more older people are being forced to linger in hospital because of a delayed assessment, care home place, home care package or home adaptation.
Without social care older people are more likely to end up in A & E because of a health crisis
“We know that social care spending has fallen dramatically and that without social care older people are more likely to end up in A & E because of a health crisis.
“Also, without the proper social care to support them on discharge, whether that be at home or in a care home, stays in hospital are often longer than they otherwise need to be.
Cuts to community health and social results in elderly people ending up in A & E with health issues
Patients are unnecessarily kept in hospital waiting to be discharged
“Policy makers must face up to the fact that an ageing population means increasing numbers of older people needing good social care, and unless and until we provide it the pressures on our hospitals will become more and more unsustainable.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “Patients should never be stuck in hospital unnecessarily and we are taking action to make health and social care more integrated.”