PubMed · 10166884
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S Campbell. 1997. Avoiding the empty bed syndrome.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10166884/
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Delayed discharges are seen as a litmus test for how the whole health and social care system is working. The problem has been exacerbated by delays in developing intermediate care schemes. There has been less use of the private nursing homes for intermediate care than envisaged a year ago, possibly because of NHS concerns about standards. More support should be given to people with chronic conditions to keep them out of hospital.
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.