"The government, and health service leaders, must pay attention to the chaos inside Emergency Departments this winter, which are buckling under the pressure because of a failure to prepare for predictable surges in seasonal illnesses. That's the key takeaway from NHS England's latest stats on the pressures the Urgent and Emergency Care system is under in England, published today, according to the Royal College of Medicine (RCEM)."
"Concerningly, an average of 13,251 patients occupying these beds each day should not have been in them, as they were deemed medically fit to leave, but could not be discharged due to a lack of community, wrap-around and social care provision, or could not go back home. If all of these patients were discharged, there would be enough beds to bring down occupancy to a safe level of 85%."
"Further, 51,094 staff were absent each day, an increase of 682 compared to the same week last year. Dr Jason Long, RCEM Vice President, said: "The chaos continues and the consequences of the government's failure to prepare for winter are borne out once more in this week's data. "Sustained pressure from a predictable winter illness like norovirus would not be a catastrophe in a working hospital system."
Inpatient bed occupancy stands at 94.4%, well above the safe 85% threshold. An average of 13,251 patients occupy beds each day despite being medically fit for discharge because of insufficient community, wrap-around and social care or inability to return home; discharging them would reduce occupancy to 85%. Exit block at the back door is worsened by a rise in norovirus (diarrhoea and vomiting). Daily staff absences average 51,094, up 682 year-on-year. Late or inadequate winter planning has left Emergency Departments unable to absorb predictable seasonal surges, causing severe pressure on urgent and emergency care.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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