Yesterday, a Bridgend Council scrutiny committee discussed a report (pdf) into the long-standing problem of delayed transfers of care or delayed pathways of care (previously known as “bed-blocking”, which is considered offensive now).
Delayed transfers of care occur when a patient is fit to be discharged from a hospital, but can’t leave because there are no arrangements for them to return home or receive social services support.
This leads to hospital beds being occupied longer than is necessary, causing delays and long waiting times further down the line.
Bridgend “above average for 5 of 6 common causes of delayed care transfers”
The latest figures (included in the report) show delays have markedly increased since February 2024.
In Bridgend, most of the delays are caused by social care packages and social care assessments. Resultingly, Bridgend is above the Welsh average in 5 of the top 6 reasons for a delayed transfer, with 91 patients in the Princess of Wales hospital caught in a delay as of August 2024.
73 patients were caught in delayed transfers at Glanrhyd Hospital too.
What’s being done to address it?
Some of the new policies Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board have sought to introduce to improve matters include an electronic transfer of care system where the level of support a patient needs and their need for a hospital bed is recorded and monitored. A discharge hub has also been introduced at the Princess of Wales Hospital.
The assessment levels look like this:
Although the NHS and social services are run separately, the policy of both Bridgend Council and the health board is to help people live independently for as long as they can. Supporting policies and programmes include:
- Bridgelink Telecare: a 24/7 alert and monitoring system.
- Reablement programmes: for residents who are not quite at the stage of needing full-time residential care but can’t live independently.
- Early intervention and specialist assessment teams (i.e. for people with sensory problems).
Bridgend Council is remodelling in-home care support to speed up hospital discharges.
Across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board, plans are in place to create an “Enhanced Community Care” team. This team will aim to respond to patients facing a delayed discharge, or intervene to prevent a hospital admission, within 2 hours.
