Bed-blocking due to lack of care homes

12:51pm Tuesday 3rd December 2002

DARTFORD and Gravesham has the largest number of elderly people in Kent needlessly waiting to be discharged from their hospital beds.

With up to 15 per cent of Kent's care-homes and sheltered housing closing down over the last two years, north Kent's hospitals seem to have the worst bed-blocking figures.

And, according to a Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust (PCT) spokesman, the proximity to London worsens the situation because London boroughs tend to move their elderly into north Kent's care homes.

He said: "This means the number of new beds which would be available to us is less than it would otherwise be."

Darent Valley Hospital currently has 47 of its 419 beds taken up by elderly patients who no longer need hospital treatment.

And this risks hampering the hospital's capacity to cope with emergency situations.

A hospital spokesman said: "This is an issue which impacts significantly on the trust's ability to manage its acute care capacity and meet emergency access targets in the accident and emergency ward."

Kent County Council (KCC) social services, which is responsible for sheltered and residential care in the county, says the Government's plan to charge them up to £140 a day for each of these needlessly used hospital beds will only make the problem worse.

KCC believes it will cost it £5.5m a year in fines.

It says the money should be used to find spaces in the private sector and reduce the number of hospital admissions in the first place.

But Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT says it is working with Kent social services for the first time to address the situation.

PCT chief executive Stephanie Stanwick said: "In response to recognised needs of the local community, KCC together with Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT, has commissioned the refurbishment of a recuperative centre which will provide an additional 26 beds."

These are expected to be available later this month.

The figures showing Dartford and Gravesham had the largest number of bed-blocks were taken from a Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority report.