BED-BLOCKING at Great Western Hospital and other medical facilities around the county spiked over the summer to the highest level in three years.

Known as 'delays in transfer of care' they totalled more than 1,400 days in June according to a new performance review, higher than any month since April 2016.

The situation arises when a patient has nowhere to be moved to within the hospital and being discharged is not suitable.

The review into bed-blocking highlighted a sharp rise in the number of patients affected by logjams while being moved in and out of the wards.

The report said: “The number of patients formally recorded as Delayed Transfers of Care within GWH directly impacts on in-patient flow.

“This is closely associated with the number of patients that are classified as ‘super stranded’, which is a length of stay over 21 days.

“Although reducing over recent months, Wiltshire DToCs are a concern in relation to the high numbers."

The report added: “When further reviewed, NHS-funded care is the driver for delays.

"The position is reviewed and escalation calls take place three times per week to support the onward flow of each patient with the relevant partner.

“The position and future direction is an agenda item at the ED Delivery Board and a meeting is scheduled with Wiltshire Community, Council and CCG to ensure a reduction is seen.”

Trust bosses say they are are taking action to free up beds, minimise treatment delays and improve the flow of patients in and out of hospital while coping with a rise in demand.

The trust’s acting chief executive Kevin McNamara said: “A priority is to ensure patients can leave hospital as soon as they are well enough so that beds remain available for new patients and we can maintain a steady flow through the hospital.

“This is especially important in light of significant increases in demand for our services in recent years.

“Arranging a patient’s on-going care so they can leave hospital in a timely, safe and supported way relies not only on our own hospital processes, but a system-wide response from other health and social care providers as well as support from families to free up hospital beds.

“This is so that arrangements for further care, whether in the patient’s own home, in a rehabilitation facility, a nursing or care homes can be made early on.”