BED BLOCKING LEAVES LOCAL HOSPITALS EXPOSED TO WINTER CRISIS

- Renfrewshire 37/40 for Bed Blocking -

Paisley North MSP Wendy Alexander has expressed “deep concern” at new figures which show that bed blocking is increasing in local hospitals. Renfrewshire is 37th out of 40 in the league table for the highest number of beds blocked. She warned that this left the NHS in Renfrewshire exposed to a winter beds crisis.

The latest census published this month, shows there were 46 Renfrewshire patients delayed for over 6 weeks in hospital in the October 2009 census. Health Minister, Shona Robison, had promised the figure would remain at zero. Only Edinburgh City and South Lanarkshire Community Health Partnerships have a worse record than Renfrewshire.

Wendy said

“I am deeply concerned to see an increase in bed blocking in Renfrewshire. This is a direct consequence of the SNP’s decision to remove £29 million of ring-fenced funding from the health budget.

“Delayed discharges are a problem because any patient, particularly if elderly, has a higher risk of hospital acquired infection for every unnecessary day they spend in hospital.

“This failure represents another broken promise for the SNP and the increasing number of blocked beds leaves our hospitals more exposed to a winter beds crisis when they already have to cope with a second wave of flu cases.”

Despite the Minister promising to eliminate bed blocking by April 08 the 3 national surveys conducted since then (attached document) show the situation in Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership is worsening not improving. I am writing to the minister to ask her to get the situation under control before we have a winter crisis for the NHS in Renfrewshire.”