'Lost' bed day numbers increase

More than 270,00 bed days were lost in hospitals last year as a result of "delayed discharge" of patients,HSE figures show.

Information provided by the HSE to Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly showed 50,000 more bed days were lost in 2009 than 2008.  Dr Reilly said the number of bed days lost due to delayed discharges has increased by 65% since 2007.

“I have long been pointing out that the high number of patients, many elderly, who are in acute hospital beds when they need to be in rehab or long stay care is seriously cutting down on our hospital capacity," Dr Reilly said.

"Figures I have obtained from the HSE show that 272,881 bed days were lost in 2009, compared to 223,704 in 2008, because of delayed discharges."

He said 85% of these patients were over 65, which showed there was a real problem for elderly patients.

"Clearly this has disastrous consequences for patients attempting to gain admission to hospital, as evidenced by the chronically high numbers on trolleys in A&E."

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) reported that there were 475 patients on hospital trolleys awaiting admission yesterday morning.

[Posted: Wed 20/01/2010]