MORE THAN 216,000 bed days were lost at hospitals across the State last year as a result of the delayed discharge of patients, new HSE figures show.
The figures indicate the biggest hospital in the country – Dublin’s St James’s Hospital – was worst affected, with 40,000 bed days lost because patients fit for discharge had nowhere to go.
More than 30,000 bed days were also lost at Beaumont Hospital, over 23,000 at Tallaght hospital, over 18,000 at St Vincent’s hospital, over 11,000 at Blanchardstown hospital and over 10,000 at Cork University Hospital. Most of the patients whose discharges were delayed were over 65 years of age.
The data was released in response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael’s health spokesman Dr James Reilly, who said the figures confirmed that 30 per cent more bed days were lost as a result of delayed discharge last year than the year before. “The number of bed days lost in 2008 due to delayed discharges is akin to a major hospital like the Mater being closed for a year. This is a crazy use of resources.
“The Government’s failure to provide community beds for patients who may require convalescent, rehabilitation or longer stay care means these patients are inappropriately accommodated in acute beds. This is bad for the patients and bad for the health service. This delay at the discharge end leads to AE overcrowding and cancelled operations because all beds are occupied,” he said.
Nursing Homes Ireland said there are currently over 1,800 vacant beds in private nursing homes but the HSE is not releasing funding for older patients to access these beds even though they would cost a fraction of what care in an acute hospital bed costs. The HSE said last night it would not be commenting on the figures until today.