Joint working the key to ensuring delayed discharges do not become a barrier to rehabilitation and independence
The end of 2010 saw renewed concerns about bed-blocking, driven by the winter flu bug and the poor Christmas weather.
A survey of doctors found half thought the problem had got worse and that many clinicians blamed social services cuts.
However, social services directors countered that most delayed discharges from hospital were the fault of the NHS.
National figures for England show that the level of delayed discharges is going down, though there are big regional variations.
The most successful areas have achieved reductions through good planning and joint working between health and social care at all levels, from directors to frontline professionals.
This is the story from Portsmouth, whose efforts to tackle delayed discharges are featured in this special report.
However, some health and social care leaders are concerned that impending cuts to both services, and the reforms to the NHS will reverse progress made on delayed discharges.
This special report brings together content that reveals just how significant the bed-blocking challenge is for the health and social care sector, and how professionals are working together to tackle it.