Abstract
A significant proportion of hospital beds is usually occupied by patients awaiting placement, home adaptations or other care provisions by Social Services. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of 'acute bed-blockers' has fallen since the implementation of the Community Care Act (CCA). The aim of the present study was to examine the validity of this claim.
Records of patients discharged from Southampton Rehabilitation Unit in the twelve months before and after the implementation of the CCA (n = 72) were analysed. Contrary to previous reports, there was no difference in the overall length of hospital stay or the time patients spent awaiting discharge after they had achieved functional independence. The reasons for the inappropriate hospitalization were also similar in the two groups and were mainly due to shortage of residential care places for patients with disabilities and delays in the provision of equipment, services and home adaptations.
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