Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, commented in today’s Guardian ( 15 December) on a new report released by the Health Foundation which suggests hospitals will have fewer beds available this winter than usual because “delayed discharges” – beds occupied by people who are medically fit to leave but have nowhere to go – have been even worse in the run-up to the cold season than they were last year.
On the findings, she said: “These findings fit with our clinical experience and, if anything, underestimate the problem – especially in areas where there is more social deprivation. This is a complex problem which has been escalating for years, increasing the strain both in hospitals and in the community.
“We have an increasing older population with complex medical and social needs. Medicine is advancing, which means we are able to provide more treatment options and keep people alive for longer – but often with increased care needs.”
On pressures facing hospitals this winter, she said: “The situation is already truly shocking. Over all four nations of the UK, hospitals are struggling to meet the volume of acutely unwell patients coming into hospital and this is worsening on a daily basis.
“Medical teams are struggling to give the care that patients need as there is simply not enough space to see people or staff to see them.
“We are facing the perfect storm of overcrowded hospitals (which then increases flu transmission), overstretched urgent and emergency care areas with no space to see new patients in and a workforce that is also being decimated by flu.”
On bed capacity, she said: “Whilst we recognise that flu has caused a huge surge in demand, it is extremely frustrating that we started from such a difficult position. Even before flu hit, we were delivering care in inappropriate areas such as corridors and temporary escalation areas.
“Many hospitals have had the number of beds reduced in order to comply with the penalising financial pressures they are placed under. It was predictable that any additional strain would cause this effect. This is an extremely serious situation.
“As outlined by our colleagues in emergency medicine, for patients stranded in the emergency department, there is a significant mortality associated with this.”