07.12.10
Poll suggests a third icy winter will bring increased delays in hospital discharge
If Britain has a third cold winter patients will face ‘lots of delays’, many more than was experienced in the previous two cold winters (2008/9, 2009/10) says a survey of British Geriatrics Society’s members.
Over 80% said that a third cold winter would bring ‘some delays’ or ‘lots of delays’ in discharging patients from hospital to a care home, rehabilitation services or social services.
Between 21% and 39% thought the number of delays would be greater than the previous two years to these three discharge destinations. Less than ten per cent thought that there would be ‘no significant delays’ this year.
Asked whether their hospital had a plan to manage the increased pressure that could result from a third cold winter only two in five said yes and a quarter said no.
People were questioned about the impact that current plans for the redevelopment or reconfiguration of their service or department may have on their ability to cope with winter pressures in the future. Three in five said their service or department was facing reconfiguration, 46% were facing contraction, 17% were merging and 17% said they were expanding.
Forty two per cent said the impact of the changes would be ‘mostly negative’ against ten per cent saying it would be ‘mostly positive’.
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