'Far too many' patients at hospitals in South Yorkshire not being discharged on time
It's according to a new report which's been released today
It's thought 'far too many' patients at hospitals in parts of South Yorkshire are taking up hospital beds - when they're well enough to leave.
A new report out today suggests almost 90 per cent of patients at hospitals in Doncaster & Bassetlaw - between July last year & June of 2023 - weren't let out on time.
The Chief Executive Officer of Doncaster's Local Medical Committee is Dr Dean Eggitt.
He's been telling us why this is happening:
"It's not the patients' fault, and it's important to recognise that.
"The main problem here is that we don't have the resources, in particular - carers in the community - to look after people who should be at home, but need some support to be at home.
"This has a knock-on effect, so that hospitals can't release people when they're ready to leave.
"If we paid our community carers appropriately, we'd do better at recruiting and retaining the staff already in the sector.
"This would solve the crisis around care in the community, and incidentally it'd help to solve the so-called bed blocking issue in hospitals as well."
The Government says it's put £600 million into local council's nationally over the last year - in a bid to help with the employment & retention of care workers.
We've contacted Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a reply to this - but are yet to receive a response.
You can read more about the report's findings below: