More than 500 patients were occupying hospital beds despite being declared medically fit for discharge at the beginning of the month, according to the Department for Health.
The figures, released to DUP MLA Diane Dodds by health minister Mike Nesbitt, show that a total of 512 patients were in a hospital bed in Northern Ireland on July 2, despite being ready for discharge.
Of the 512 patients, 213 were in the Belfast trust, while 121 were in the Southern trust. A further 133 were in beds in the Northern trust area, while approximately 45 beds in the South Eastern trust were occupied by people ready for discharge, the figures reveal.
In April figures released to Mrs Dodds revealed the number to be 600. While the recent figures point towards some improvement, they do not account for blocked beds at the Western trust which did not respond in time.
The Upper Bann MLA and DUP health spokesperson said that the figures show the issue of bed blocking is “endemic” across the north and that there has been little improvement since the issue was last raised.
She said that delayed discharge “reduces hospital capacity and undermines efforts to tackle health waiting lists”.
“I recognise there are a range of factors that can prevent timely discharge, however there can be no doubt that the failure to address challenges in care homes and in domiciliary care is contributing massively to the gridlock we are seeing in many of our wards and emergency departments,” added Mrs Dodds.
According to the published figures, waits for care home placements accounted for 33 blocked beds in the Northern trust, while as many as 29 patients in the Southern trust remained in hospital while they waited for a domiciliary care package.
In Belfast the primary reason for delays in discharging patients was a “lack of care home capacity”.
In the South Eastern trust, 12 patients were delayed as there is no suitable domiciliary care package while seven were waiting for acceptance to a care home.
Mrs Dodds added: “If we are serious about transforming our health service, then our hospitals must, as intended, be efficient and effective hubs for both urgent and elective care.
“That means devising a plan for, and directing more resources to, primary and community care. DUP Ministers in Executive stand ready to support ambitious proposals from the Minister of Health to help get to grips with this crisis.’’
In his response to Mrs Dodd’s question the health minister added that trusts had “increased domiciliary care and community care capacity and expanded discharge lounges” adding that this remained a priority.
He added: “SPPG have issued ‘Discharge Lounge’ guidance to trusts to increase their use, monitored domiciliary care unmet need, established early review teams and engaged with care homes and RQIA to improve discharge processes.
“Service Delivery Plan targets for 2024/25 include a focus on weekend discharge rates, to ensure that simple and complex discharge rates help to maintain hospital flow.”