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More than 30 patients who were fit to be discharged from the General Hospital at the start of this month had no suitable destination for their onward care, latest figures have shown.
The Health Department’s most senior civil servant has admitted that bed-blocking was still a challenge for the Hospital, but said finding a solution was not easy.
Interim Chief Officer Chris Bown said that the situation was not unique to Jersey but was "not good care".
Pictured: Chris Bown was appointed Interim Chief Officer of Health and Community services on a 12-month fixed-term contract after the sudden departure of Caroline Landon.
Data released by the department showed that on 31 July there were 28 "delayed transfer" patients in the General Hospital with no onward placements, and three other patients who were also medically fit but needed assessment or interventions in hospital prior to leaving.
The number of delayed transfer patients recorded at the end of previous months in 2023 fluctuated from 36 to 46 between January and May inclusive, the figures showed.
Mr Bown said: “It's just not good care, we should not be doing it and we've got to find a solution.
“It's not easy – if it was, we would have done it by now – and it's something that's faced by the UK and other jurisdictions.”
Pictured: More than 30 patients who were fit to be discharged from the General Hospital at the start of this month had no suitable destination for their onward care.
“Important debates” needed to continue regarding third sector providers such as care homes and home care agencies which would usually assume responsibility for patients' care after leaving hospital, Mr Bown added.
“The third sector is an absolutely essential part of the whole patient pathway – if you are providing an integrated health service you can't do it without the third sector,” he said.
“Often it's to do with investment and debates about future investment in the third sector are ongoing, and it's also linked to recruitment – you need healthcare assistants to work in care homes.”
Express spoke to Chris Bown for the latest episode of 'Bailiwick Podcasts', which will be live tomorrow.
You will be able to listen to the podcast here or on your favourite podcast player by searching 'Bailiwick Podcasts'.
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