Wednesday 14 May 2014

Cutting hospital beds is a false economy | Zara Aziz

Cutting hospital beds is a false economy | Zara Aziz

Unless community-based services replace lost NHS beds discharged older patients are likely to be readmitted

A recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found the UK had the second lowest number of hospital beds per capita in Europe. There are 2.95 beds in the UK per 1,000 people, and we are seeing more and more beds being cut as smaller hospitals amalgamate into larger trusts. The only country that has fewer beds is Sweden, but it has different patient demographics and invests more in community health services, such as for disease prevention and management of long-term conditions.

It is symptomatic of the challenge facing the NHS. Commissioning groups and hospital trusts are asked to deliver ever more: reduce A&E attendance, unplanned admissions and outpatient waiting times, while simultaneously coping with a workforce crisis and catastrophic budget cuts. The Guardian
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