A new watchdog body headed by a county councillor from Brentwood has revealed that scores of hospital beds for acutely ill patients and accident victims in Essex are being blocked by elderly people who do not need to be in hospital.
The disturbing fact has emerged after a 15-month investigation by a panel made up of council representatives from across the county and chaired by Roger Dyson who is one of the five Brentwood representatives on Essex County Council.
His group has highlighted that one of the underlying causes of the crisis is a shortage of residential and nursing home accommodation, particularly in the Brentwood, Epping and Southend areas.
Cllr Dyson says: "At any one time, there are about 60 older people in Essex who are being delayed in hospital and the problem is more serious in the south of the county."
Although the investigation has been under way since July 2001, it is only from the start of this year that the Essex Health Overview and Scrutiny Partnership Panel has had statutory powers to examine health services and make recommendations for improvement.
The panel, one of many nationwide, is the first in the country to publish its report which is now being studied by social services bosses and management teams at NHS hospital trusts - in Basildon and Thurrock, Harlow, Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend.
The pressure is on unitary authorities - Essex County Council and borough councils in Southend and Thurrock - to eliminate hospital discharge delays caused by social services departments which face fines of £120 for every night's delay from April 1.
The panel suggests that elderly people unable to return home after their stay in hospital should be transferred to the nearest available alternative facility which could mean a short-term stay in a residential home.
The watchdog group wants to see greater investment in so-called interim facilities such as residential and nursing care and this demand is coupled with a call to limit wealthier London authorities outbidding Essex for the scarce resources available.
Published Friday, January 24, 2003
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