Number Of ‘Bed-Blocking’ Patients Falls

The number of “bed blocking” patients in the Lothians fell marginally in July, according to new figures. There were 141 elderly patients stuck in hospital wards with nowhere else to go – down from 150 in June. However, this was still much higher than in April, when figures reached an all-time low of 89.

NHS Lothian has set a target of reducing the number of bed blocking patients to 50 by April next year, however sweeping cuts in the city’s health and social care budget may prevent that happening. NHS Lothian chairman Dr Charles Winstanley has admitted the re-emergence of bed blocking was “worrying” and he recently warned council budget cuts could inflame the problem.

Council officials have proposed closing a care home and restricting the number of new places, although councillors have ordered them to reconsider the plans. Jackie Sansbury, NHS Lothian’s director of strategic planning, said: “The number of patients delayed in hospital when they no longer need to be there has been falling progressively over the past five years when the numbers were well over 500.

“The increase in numbers since April is largely due to the shortage of care home spaces and other appropriate places where patients with high support and care needs can be placed, though the July census does show a small drop at 141 patients in this position as compared to the June figure of 150. In the absence of suitable care home accommodation, or suitable care packages, patients remain in NHS beds.

“We are continuing to work closely with our local authority partners in Edinburgh and throughout the Lothians to tackle delayed discharge and ensure that patients do not remain in hospital when it’s no longer an appropriate environment for them.”