Fewer patients are now blocking beds

Despite a difficult winter, with increased emergency admissions putting pressure on accident and emergency departments, hospitals and social services managed to bring down the number of bedblockers, or delayed transfers of care (DToCs) last month to 102.

That is a reduction of 24 on the January figure and a massive 152 (60 per cent) fewer than the November 2003 figure of 254.

This has been achieved despite warnings from social services departments that lack of money meant they would not be able to fund care home placements towards the end of the financial year, except on a one in, one out basis.

This has been the case in Newport, in spite of which the February figure of 30 bedblockers for the city was 22 fewer than for January.

Since April last year, when there were 55 Newport bedblockers, the average for the city has been 40, with the exception of January.

Newport Local Health Board (LHB) has welcomed the decrease for February, but has warned that even small fluctuations in the numbers can make a big difference, particularly at key times of the year, such as winter.

The biggest difference in the five LHB areas in Gwent between November 2003 and last month has occurred in Caerphilly, a 72 per cent fall from 71 to 20.

The Newport reduction has been 65 per cent, with a 64 per cent cut for Torfaen (58 to 21), and 53 per cent reduction for Blaenau Gwent (34 to 16).

Even in Monmouthshire, where bedblocking levels are traditionally lower, there has been a 37 per cent fall, from 16 to 10.

The figures are within targets set by the Assembly executive for the end of this month. Further reductions are likely to be required during 2006.

A particular issue is the numbers of bedblockers in acute hospital beds.

The average number of patients blocking Royal Gwent Hospital beds recently has been six per month, but the average length of delay is 15 days, the most common reason being a wait for specialist assessment prior to discharge.