Region sees bed blocking rise by almost 50%

Bed blocking in hospitals in our region has risen by 48% in four years.

According to NHS England, patients ready to be discharged spent an extra 260,000 days in hospitals because of delays in finding alternative care.

The GMB union, which compiled the figures, blames the problem on councils being unable to accept patients because of cuts.

Credit: PA

In 2015/16 South West NHS patients who were ready to be discharged but were kept in hospital due to delays in providing alternative care were delayed by 257,900 days. This was an increase of 83,433 days compared with 174,467 days in 2011/12.

The five areas in the South West showing the highest increase in bed blocking between 2011/12 and 2015/16 are as follows:

  • Cornwall - Increase of 17,108 days to 39,786

  • Devon - Increase of 15,994 to 46,418

  • Somerset - Increase of 14,495 to 25,527

  • North Somerset UA - Increase of 8849 to 11,863