Revealed: The shocking scale of bed-blocking in NHS hospitals – and it is costing the NHS billions
The drive to cut NHS waiting lists is being hampered by bed-blockers who now cost taxpayers more than £2billion a year, a study reveals.
More than 12,000 hospital beds every day are occupied by patients who no longer have a medical need to remain but are unable to leave.
The huge scale of the crisis – equivalent to closing 26 entire hospitals – is forcing managers to cancel operations and fuelling ambulance delays as there are so few beds for new admissions.
A total of 15.7million bed days have been lost to bed-blocking over the past three-and-a-half years, according to new analysis of NHS figures.
This averages 12,008 beds per day over the study period but the problem has significantly worsened during this time – soaring 59 per cent from an average of 8,039 per day in April 2021 to 12,772 in April 2024.
Many of those stuck on wards are waiting for a place in a care home or for a package of care to be arranged in their own home.
Charities warn the longer elderly people remain in hospital the more they deteriorate and the greater they risk they will never regain independence.
Leading health think-tank the King’s Fund has calculated that it costs the NHS £395 a night to care for someone when they could be discharged.
A total of 15.7million bed days have been lost to bed-blocking over the past three-and-a-half years, according to new analysis of NHS figures (file image)
More than 12,000 hospital beds every day are occupied by patients who no longer have a medical need to remain but are unable to leave (file image)
It means the direct costs of delayed discharges could total £6.2billion in the three-and-a-half years since NHS England first published the figures on delayed discharges – or £4.7million every day.
An estimated 6.34million people were on NHS waiting lists for 7.54 million treatments at the end of October, the latest figures show.
Health leaders and patient groups have lamented the government’s failure to fix social care and are calling for more funding and a long-term plan.
Helen Morgan, health and social care spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, who analysed the NHS England figures [must keep], said millions of NHS bed days have been ‘needlessly wasted’ because of a failure to recognise that social care the NHS ‘need to work hand in hand’.
She added: ‘The consequences are devastating, with millions more unable to get the treatment they deserve with patients stuck in corridors and waiting rooms as they wait for a bed.
‘The new government cannot allow this unacceptable situation to continue any longer.
‘They urgently need to enter into cross party talks on social care and get hospitals the thousands of extra beds that they need.’
An estimated 6.34million people were on NHS waiting lists for 7.54 million treatments at the end of October, the latest figures show (file image)
Rachel Power, chief executive of The Patients Association, said: ‘The failure to fix social care is continuing to cause serious knock-on effects throughout the NHS.
‘When people who are well enough to leave hospital can’t do so because the right support isn’t available in their communities, it affects everyone.
‘It can lead to poorer outcomes for people stuck in hospital and contribute to a loss of independence, especially for the elderly.
‘Meanwhile, this creates pressures across the whole system – from ambulances waiting outside A&E unable to respond to new emergencies, to patients facing longer waits for hospital admission.
‘Until we see fully funded strategy for social care and the long-promised shift to care closer to home, both patients and NHS staff will continue to face these unnecessary pressures and delays.’
The direct costs of delayed discharges could total £6.2billion in the three-and-a-half years since NHS England first published the figures on delayed discharges – or £4.7million every day (file image)
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, described the figures as a ‘huge concern’.
She added: ‘The longer an older person is stuck in hospital the lower their chances of making a full recovery and maintaining their independence.’
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of NHS Providers, said: ‘With hospital wards already almost full due to intense winter pressures including a surge in cases of flu and other serious viruses, the NHS needs every bed it has.
‘Politicians can’t kick the social care can down the road any longer.
‘We need urgent reform and adequate funding of social care to really get a grip on the worrying number of delayed discharges across the NHS.’
Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘Councils are working tirelessly to help people leave hospital safely, but the pressures they face – including workforce shortages, rising demand, and inadequate funding – make this increasingly challenging.’
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘With the NHS busier than it’s ever been before heading into winter, delays in discharging patients is a real issue, which is why we are working closely with colleagues in social care and local government to make sure patients are discharged as soon as they are medically fit.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This government will tackle delayed discharges to make sure people do not spend longer than necessary in hospital and to free up hospital beds as part of our 10 Year Health plan.’
