Health boss: We'll tackle wards crisis

Elderly people are finding themselves trapped in hospital, not because they need treatment but because there's nowhere else for them to go.

The knock-on effect is a shortage of beds. One hospital boss has already said one of his wards is more like a nursing home because so many elderly patients are waiting to leave.

Brighton and Hove's hospitals, community services, Primary Care Trust and social services say they are working together to tackle it.

The main aim is to make sure a patient being discharged from hospital is transferred to a place that is as safe as possible.

This could either be residential accommodation or their own home.

Ian Long is director of community care for Brighton and Hove City Council and South Downs Health NHS Trust.

He said his staff of social workers, district nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists were working flat out to get people assessed and out of hospital as quickly as possible.

He said: "All the organisations in the health community know they need to work together to deal with this and that is what we are doing.

"The staff are doing a fantastic job. They are very busy at all times but are doing everything they can."

The city council has been given an extra £1.1 million of government money to tackle delayed discharges.

This is being used to help independent care home owners but a large amount will also go towards developing more services aimed at letting people stay at home.

Once a person has been assessed as medically fit to leave hospital they may need to be assessed by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or sometimes a social worker.

Some adaptations may need to be made to people's homes, such as putting in hoists by beds or handrails in the bathroom.

Mr Long said: "We have to look at all the safety issues before making a final decision and then work on getting the patient out.

"Our emphasis is on letting the patient go back to their own home but in some cases they have to go into residential care.

"The problem is the market in the city has contracted, especially for people with specialist needs who have to have a high level of nursing.

"It is not so much a matter of not having the money available but more that there are not as many places available as we would like.

"This is one of the reasons why we are trying to move away from residential care and develop support packages for people at home."

One of the complaints from care home owners in the city is they are not paid enough per patient for them to be able to keep the business going.

Homes are also closing at a rapid rate because owners cannot afford to make the necessary building changes to meet new government standards.

Mr Long said: "When we formed as a unitary authority we inherited from East Sussex one of the lowest levels of payments to independent care homes in England.

"We have been increasing that over the years but we know it is going to take some time.

"We have also been targeting areas where there were problems with shortages. These included homes for people with dementia."

A new home care service is also being developed where people can get the care and support they need when they are discharged from hospital.

The idea is to provide a back up so people can get used to being at home again and cope well.

If the support is given then there is less chance of them being readmitted.

Brighton and Hove has been given £1.5 million from the Government to develop its Knoll House resource centre for older people.

It will be used to provide an intermediate care service for older people who can be discharged from hospital but need extra nursing support before going home.

The centre is expected to provide an extra 24 beds.

The council is working with South Downs Health and pooling their budgets to provide a united service covering all aspects of social and community services.

It means patients will be assessed and dealt with more quickly.

Mr Long said: "There is a lot going on within the whole health community and the changes and projects being brought will help make a great deal of difference in the long term."