----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Edwards <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 4:19 AM
Subject: Re: trolley waits
> Ambulance crews are being delayed from attending 999 calls because of
delays
> in A&E, A&E assessment and treatment is being delayed by an inability to
admit,
> due to a lack of ward beds, which is due to delayed discharge of "bed
blockers",
> a term which I think means 'people requiring on-going residential care who
through
> no fault of their own can't get into these places due to lack of
government
> funding in Social Services'
>
> The government could improve every level of hospital medicine, not by
increasing
> NHS funding, but by increasing the level of funding for Rest Homes,
Nursing
> Homes, Home Help etc, but I guess it's just not as sexy.
>
Agreed - most of the problem seems to be in the provision of adequate Rest
Home / Nursing Home beds. Round here (south Hampshire) residential homes
(especially) seem to be closing in considerable numbers due to lack of
funding by government at Social Service level. Those that have the cash can
pay, but the majority can't afford to. I look after the patients in a
Nursing Home, which is good, but not exceptional. None of the patients there
are funded solely by Social Services, all of them requiring a self funding
top up of at least £50 per week. The level of Social Service funding is not
adequate to maintain the beds in Rest Homes or Nursing Homes. According to
the owners of these homes the increase in costs is not in the staff
overheads, but in the large increase in costs necessary to comply with
spiralling legislation on Health and Safety that is Government driven. Thus
the loop is closed.
Tom Moore
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