bed-blocking

British  

noun

1. the use of hospital beds by elderly patients who cannot leave hospital because they have no place in a residential care home

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Other Word Forms

• bed-blocker noun

Example Sentences

But relatives said staff had told them the problem was bed-blocking by other patients ready to be discharged.

From BBC

In a preventing future deaths report to Health Secretary Steve Barclay, Mr Cox said hospital bed-blocking and ambulance delays were "recurring themes" in the cases.

From BBC

Bed-blocking or delayed discharge - where a patient continues to occupy a hospital bed despite being well enough to leave - continues to cast a shadow over Scotland's health service.

From BBC

Bed-blocking is a longstanding challenge for the NHS but one felt more acutely now because of a post-Covid lockdown increase in demand and a lack of available social care places in the community.

From BBC

The report, NHS in Scotland 2021, urges the Scottish government and NHS boards to work together with partners in the social care sector to develop a solution for reducing delayed discharges from hospital, so-called bed-blocking.

From BBC