Bed-blocking. Acute distress.
A study of bed occupancy in 21 hospitals over the past two years showed an average of 29 per cent of patients no longer needed acute care. Two-thirds of this group had been in hospital for more than 28 days. About a fifth of this group were under 65. The main reasons for delayed discharges were waits for social services assessment or home-care packages.
Bed Occupancy↗