'Full' care homes make PEH bed shortage worse

Guernsey Care Managers Association chairwoman Cathy Bailey said there was also high demand for care home beds.

‘Unfortunately, most... are also running at capacity, so beds cannot be created and while many homes can cater for a range of clients, some long-term care needs have to be provided in a hospital setting.’

Previously, such clients would often have been moved to the King Edward VII hospital, which is no longer in use.

The sector did all it could to facilitate discharges from hospital, providing clients were awarded the appropriate certificate for their level of need, she said.

‘We recognise that moving to a care setting can be a worrying time and [they] are more than happy for relatives to view their homes and answer any questions they might have.’

As well as the pressure on the hospital and homes, care in the community is also stretched.

Nurses can help elderly residents live in their own homes for longer, by offering assistance with washing, eating and getting out of bed.

Modernisation of the hospital is a top priority for Health & Social Care. Committee president Deputy Al Brouard said the upgrade would improve efficiency and reduce the length of stays.

‘It’s all part of a bigger plan to futureproof our health and social care system to cope with an ageing population and ongoing fiscal pressures,’ he said.

‘Without the hospital modernisation there will be ongoing challenges in clinical safety as areas of the PEH are falling behind acceptable modern standards.

‘And crucially, as has been highlighted this week, demand will continue to outstrip capacity.’

Work on the modernisation has been delayed, but the first phase is now scheduled to start in October and be completed within 18 months.

This will include increasing the number of critical care beds, which have been under pressure in recent days.

PEH bed occupancy reached 98% on Tuesday and 94% yesterday and some elective procedures were postponed.

Health managers asked for the hospital to be kept for essential cases only.

A variety of emergency admissions had piled on the pressure, and it was also revealed that 13 patients were delayed in the PEH because they were either awaiting States rates care home beds or for a care package within their own homes to be arranged.

Those patients were stuck in wards when they were ready to leave and resume their recovery and rehabilitation in a more comfortable setting.

Employment & Social Security warned last year that the ageing population meant that the care home sector needed to be made more sustainable and given opportunity to invest and expand bed capacity.

The plans were rejected, despite concerns about the strain it could put on the health service.