Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels
Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts have unsafe bed occupancy levels
Two thirds of NHS hospital trusts had unsafe bed occupancy levels between April and June
- Damning statistics show 131 trusts – which run hospitals – were at least 85% full
- Two even reported 100% occupancy rates during the busy three-month period
- The two trusts were Oxford Health Foundation Trust and Bedford Hospital Trust
Two thirds of hospital trusts had unsafe bed occupancy levels between the start of April and end of June, NHS figures have revealed.
Damning statistics published today show 131 trusts – which run hospitals – were at least 85 per cent full, the safe limit set by health chiefs.
Two even reported 100 per cent occupancy rates during the busy three-month period – Oxford Health Foundation Trust and Bedford Hospital Trust.
Damning statistics published today show 131 trusts – which run hospitals – were at least 85 per cent full, the safe limit set by health chiefs
Patients are more likely to catch infections or suffer neglect when wards are above the safe level of 85 per cent, experts have warned.
It is thought doctors and nurses may not always have time to wash their hands between patients, or clean beds thoroughly, because they are so over-stretched.
Hospitals have cut approximately 15,000 beds in the last six years – about 10 per cent – as part of a drive to treat patients in their own homes.
At the same time, wards are becoming increasingly occupied by frail elderly patients unable to go home due to budget cuts to social care.
Concerns were raised earlier this year when figures revealed overnight bed occupancy rates in NHS hospitals between January and March were the worst ever.
New figures, published today by NHS England, shows a slight decline from the 92.6 per cent that was recorded in the last quarter of 2017/18.
The overall occupancy rate of the 175 trusts with any overnight beds in general and acute wards in England was 89.9 per cent for the first quarter of 2018/19.
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This means the safe limit of 85 per cent or less has still never been achieved since modern records began in 2010.
Ten NHS trusts that operated above the 85 per cent occupancy rates have less than 100 beds. But the others all have more, including 18 that at least 1,000.
Only two were completely full during the quarter but a further four were above 98 per cent – meaning if they had 100 beds, only two would be free.
They were: Bradford Teaching Hospitals FT, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals FT, Kettering General Hospital FT and Central and North West London FT.
Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Jonathan Ashworth earlier this year slammed the data for quarter four in 2017/18.
He said: ‘Yet again this is more damning evidence of a Tory-made crisis in the NHS.
‘Government ministers should be ashamed that years of cuts to beds, cuts to social care and austerity have led to the worst bed occupancy rates on record.
‘Bed occupancy rates above 85 per cent pose a significant risk to patient safety and the downturn compared with last year should be a cause of serious concern.’
WHERE ARE THE TRUSTS WITH THE 10 HIGHEST BED OCCUPANCY RATES?
Bedford Hospital T: 100%
Oxford Health FT: 100%
Bradford Teaching Hospitals FT: 98.7%
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals FT: 98.5%
Kettering General Hospital FT: 98.5%
Central and North West London FT: 98.2%
Western Sussex Hospitals FT: 97.8%
King’s College Hospital FT: 97.7%
East and North Hertfordshire T: 97.6%
Countess of Chester Hospital FT: 97.4%
T = Trust, FT = Foundation Trust
A spokesperson for the Oxford Health Foundation Trust said it was ‘very conscious’ of the pressures on beds.
They added: ‘We recognise Oxfordshire has a higher than average bed occupancy rate and we are working to reduce this.’
NHS England and Bedford Hospital Trust have been approached for comment by MailOnline.
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Surgeons told MailOnline:
‘As we’d expect over the warmer months, overall acute and general bed occupancy is lower than in previous quarters at 89.9 per cent.
‘It is however worrying that a number of trusts are operating at near to 100 per cent bed occupancy.
‘While patient safety can be assured at higher levels, health experts agree, as a measure of average performance, levels should ideally be around 85 per cent for optimum efficiency.
‘A lack of beds leads to operations being cancelled, longer waiting lists and patients having to endure more time in pain and discomfort.
‘As we head towards what will undoubtedly be another difficult winter, its critical trusts bring bed occupancy down.
‘A recent European Commission report found that the UK had the third lowest number of hospital beds in the EU at 2.6 per 1,000 in 2015, compared to the EU average of 5.1.
‘The Government’s forthcoming 10 year plan for the NHS and social care must include a commitment to increasing bed capacity and transforming the way we provide care for older patients, so they can be treated closer to their homes.’
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