09.09.14
College of Emergency Medicine warns that ‘exit block’ is harming patients
The College of Emergency Medicine has called for action on ‘exit block’, warning that a lack of available ward beds is causing A&E overcrowding and patient harm.
Dr Katherine Henderson, clinical lead at St Thomas’ Hospital, explains in a new video: “If you can’t get [the] patient out of the hospital up to wards when they need care, you can’t get new patients in who need treatment.”
Over 500,000 patients a year are affected by ‘exit block’, which the College calls “unacceptable”. Peer reviewed studies in 2006, 2009 and 2011 confirmed that blocked emergency departments lead to higher mortality rates. The condition also leads to increased lengths of stay and inferior medical care.
Dr Clifford Mann, president of the College of Emergency Medicine, said: “We are concerned with patient safety. When the A&E becomes crowded because of ‘exit block’ we know that patients do less well. We know that crowding kills.”
The College has called for action on ‘exit block’ before, for example in a November 2013 warning to ministers on “toxic overcrowding”.
In 2012, one-third of emergency departments failed to meet the 95% standard of patients being seen, treated, admitted or discharged within four hours. In 2013 this figure doubled to 66%.
The College is calling on hospital chief executives and their boards that this issue is on their agenda. To help with tackling this issue, the College has launched this guidance: Crowding In Emergency Departments.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “While long waits for a bed are extremely rare they remain completely unacceptable and we expect hospitals to get patients to wards quickly, which we recently highlighted in guidance for trusts.”
(Image: c. Rui Vieira & PA Wire & Press Association Images)
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