Bed blocking in Edinburgh hospitals.

A point prevalence survey of in-patients in all acute hospitals within the city of Edinburgh in 1988 identified 224 elderly patients (65 and over) waiting for long stay care. This represents a 'bed blocking' rate of 19% across all specialties. The highest rate was found in Orthopaedic second line beds (approximately 33%) followed by Geriatric Assessment beds (approximately 30%); Acute General Medical Beds had approximately 13% of their beds blocked. Some 75% of the 224 patients were waiting for Geriatric long stay beds, 5% for Psychogeriatric, and a substantial proportion waiting for continuing care outwit the NHS (nearly 9% for Private Nursing Homes and 11% for residential accommodation). A repeat of this survey in 1990 revealed a small overall drop in bed blocking rate (18%) with moderate changes within the specialty groupings. However a substantial increase (from 20% to 32%) had occurred in those awaiting non-NHS accommodation, and a drop in those waiting for Geriatric Care (75% to 62%).