Dorset health and social care services close to 'point of collapse'
Many key services have been at their operational limits since February
Health and social care in Dorset remains close to the “point of collapse” – Dorset councillors have been told.
Many of the key services have been at the limits of the system’s operational ability to cope since early February – with Covid infections currently rising again.
Sherborne councillor Robin Legg said he worried that too many people remained in hospital beds when they ought not to be there because health and social care system are not coping with discharges.
He asked if the system was close to the point of collapse – to be told by a senior officer that his remark was “fair comment.”
Cllr Legg said that at the same time the local NHS 111 call system was falling short of meeting demand, while also being asked to field some of the calls from neighbouring council areas, also under pressure.
The meeting was told that despite this the services remains the 10th best in the country and is currently recruiting more call handlers.
Cllr Legg said that adding to the problems was the recent closure of the Portland, Sherborne and Blandford Forum minor injury units, reducing the choice of care for residents in those areas.
Those closures have been blamed on staff shortages with 36% of local NHS staff absences in February due to sickness from Covid.
The people, health and scrutiny committee meeting heard on Monday that around 300 people in the area’s three acute hospital were currently medically ready to be discharged but remained in hospital longer than needed because there were not enough care places available or support packages for returning to home.
The county has had a “care hotel” in use since just after Christmas offering 16 beds for low level need patients being discharged from hospital. The building is close to the main Bournemouth hospital and the model is not expected to be repeated elsewhere in the county.
Committee chair Cllr Gill Taylor questioned whether the ‘care hotel’ was the best use of public money and suggested the finance might be better channelled into other measures for patients being discharged from hospital, including support in the community.
Cllr Legg said he was concerned that the care hotel decision had been taken entirely by officers with no councillor involvement at all – apart from being told it had happened, after the event.