NHS bed blocking on the rise again

Aug 31 2010

Bed blocking has returned to hospitals in Scotland despite dropping to zero earlier in the year, with figures for the summer higher than those of 2009.

The discharge from hospital of 62 patients was delayed for more than six weeks in an NHS census for July, compared with zero in April and 55 in July 2009.

Bed blocking occurs when patients are clinically well enough to leave hospital but are prevented from doing so for various reasons, such as a lack of funding or other necessary care not being ready.