Assembly Audit Committee to look at bed blocking

The Assembly’s Audit Committee will look at the problem of delayed transfers of care, or bed blocking.

A delayed transfer of care is when a patient is ready to transfer to the next stage of care, but is prevented by one or more reasons. A report by the Auditor General for Wales found that these delays compromise the independence of vulnerable people and harm wider service delivery in the NHS. The report said the Assembly Government and health and social care bodies need to adopt more effective and mature systems thinking, more consistent adoption of good practice and to work together more effectively.

Now the Audit Committee is carrying out its inquiry into the problem.

The Committee will take evidence from a number of people, including Ann Lloyd, head of the NHS in Wales, and the Chief Executives of the Vale of Glamorgan Local Health Board and Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust and of Torfaen County Borough Council.

David Melding AM, Chair of Audit Committee, said: “Being unduly delayed in hospital can mean that vulnerable people lose their mobility, their confidence and their independence. The problem of bed blocking also has wider implications for the delivery of services in the health and social care sector. It is important therefore that the Committee can study the Wales Audit Office’s report closely and make recommendations that will really help to make a difference for vulnerable patients.”

The meeting takes place at 1.30pm on Thursday November 22 in Committee Room 3, Senedd, Cardiff Bay.