title: Bed-blocking. Discharge of the late brigade.
abstract: Delayed discharges are seen as a litmus test for how the whole health and social care system is working. The problem has been exacerbated by delays in developing intermediate care schemes. There has been less use of the private nursing homes for intermediate care than envisaged a year ago, possibly because of NHS concerns about standards. More support should be given to people with chronic conditions to keep them out of hospital.
authors.affiliation: King's Fund.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007380:Intermediate Care Facilities / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D010351:Patient Discharge; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics; D006113:United Kingdom