Tougher inspections of nursing homes has led to more vulnerable patients being stranded in hospital.
A growing number of patients, mainly the elderly, have been unable to leave Huddersfield Royal infirmary or Calderdale Royal Hospital as there is nowhere for them to go.
The resultant so-called “bed blocking” is causing a headache for hospital bosses, who are aiming to slash beds amid their own financial woes.
The daily struggle to manage beds was revealed in a report to the executive board at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
The report says, so far this year, bed capacity has been exceeded every month despite extra beds being brought in.
It says: “A number of intermediate care nursing beds have recently been removed from the Calderdale community system until further notice.
“This is in addition to ongoing pressure within nursing/residential care capacity across both Calderdale and Kirklees which is impacting significantly on the CHFT bed base...”
Lesley Hill, director of planning, performance and estates, said more than 50 patients had been ready for discharge in June but there was nowhere for them to go.
Julie Dawes, executive director of nursing, said there was evidence that beds had been lost because of CQC enforcements.
Calderdale councillor, Bob Metcalfe, also a membership councillor for the hospital, said it was an issue for both the council and the trust.
“The CQC regime standards are different and far more rigorous – and it’s right,” he said. “Where quality isn’t right we have a duty to protect the vulnerable.”
Trust chairman, Andrew Haigh, responded: “It is right but it just puts pressure in the system which results on us.”
The lack of social care beds comes amid a clampdown on care homes by regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Examiner reported in May that the watchdog shut Oxford Grange nursing home in Dewsbury while its enforcement actions are thought to have contributed to others calling it a day.
Clr Viv Kendrick, chair of Kirklees Council’s Health and Wellbeing board, said she understood a Huddersfield care home was on the brink of closure.
Clr Kendrick admitted the council was heavily reliant on private providers for bed capacity but were in talks to see what they could do.
“We’ve had the closure of three care homes in Dewsbury and one of those was full nursing care,” she said. “That immediately puts pressure on us.
“We only have four care homes in Kirklees – we’re reliant on commissioning. But there’s an indication from some companies that they’re going to build new homes, so there could be a little bit of relief on the horizon.”
Calderdale Council’s, Head of Safeguarding and Quality, Iain Baines, said: “The CQC has implemented a new inspection regime which is resulting in some providers not meeting the required standards.
“We are also aware that there is a general shortage of nurses available to work in the sector.
“The local authority is committed to work with all our partners to raise standards and ensure that our most vulnerable citizens who need support can be confident in the quality of care they receive.”
