NHS hold-ups cause most bed-blocking

The biggest single cause of bed-blocking is delays in providing
further NHS care, according to the latest government figures.

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 been, with 467 delayed because other
NHS services, such as intermediate care, were unavailable.

But given that intermediate care is typically commissioned jointly
by primary care trusts and councils, such delays cannot be
attributed solely to the NHS.

Of the rest, 701 could be attributed to social services, 518
through delays in providing residential care and 183 in providing
home care.