The biggest single cause of bed-blocking is delays in providing further NHS care, according to the latest government figures, writes Mithran Samuel.
However, almost one-third of cases originated exclusively in the social care system, through delays in providing residential care placements or home care packages.
In the week ending 7 August, 2,413 people were kept in acute beds longer than they should have done, with 467 delayed because further NHS services, such as intermediate care, were unavailable.
However, given intermediate care is typically commissioned jointly by primary care trusts and councils, such delays cannot be attributed solely to the NHS.
The next most common reason, with 435 delays, was patient choice, for instance if a desired package of care was not available, followed by hold-ups in completing assessments, with 392.
Of the rest, 701 could be attributed to social services, 518
through delays in providing residential care and 183 in providing
home care.
