Why is Bed Blocking a Concern?
See how Home Instead Chingford is supporting both you and the NHS.
What Is Bed Blocking?
Bed blocking occurs in hospitals when someone is staying and using a hospital bed when they no longer need to be there. They may have been medically discharged but are unable to leave due to having nowhere to go where they can be cared for safely. This can be for a variety of reasons; family unable to support, home doesn’t have the right resources, lack of availability in care homes.
Why is Bed Blocking a Concern?
It can increase the risk of hospital-acquired infections and diminishes the quality of life for patients who could be cared for in a more appropriate setting. Additionally, patients risk deconditioning their mobility as hospitals do not provide the freedom or space to maintain these skills. Functional loss in mobility as muscle mass and strength decline, can cause problems with continence, can affect thinking and cognitive abilities and ultimately affect activities of daily living and independence.
Other issues with bed blocking include the unnecessary increased strain on the NHS and their ability to provide treatment to other patients, increasing waiting times with the pressure trickling down to GP’s efficiency too.
How does Home Care Prevent Bed Blocking?
Hospital and social care working together is vital in ensuring a reduction in bed blocking and a swift return to home in the event of hospital admission.
When one of our clients was unavoidably admitted to hospital, we were able to maintain his health through the continuation of care by keeping our regular visits. With various specific health needs we were able to advise and support hospital staff in the best ways to care for our client so that they could receive the necessary treatment that was needed whilst feeling safe with their trust Care Professionals by their side. This also meant a smooth and speedy transition home.
How can Home Instead prevent your loved ones from being admitted to hospital?
With our services ranging from hourly visits to 24-hour care with Live-in carers anyone can remain at home no matter their Health. Home instead works closely with all health care teams to ensure the highest level of care can be provided at home.
Our Care professionals are not only there to improve the quality of life for your loved ones but to monitor and keep track of any new or continuous conditions that you or themselves may not be able to. Our Care Professionals regular contact with your loved ones provides a knowledge base to be able to recognise changes early on in their health and alert the relevant team of Health professionals, so that your loved one’s health care can be preventative rather than reactive. This further ensures that they can stay in a safe space they know, their home.
