'Bed-blocking' fears at town hospital

Staff and patients are still celebrating the news that 14 beds will be saved from the medical ward at the hospital but the long-term future of the beds is still not guaranteed.

Earlier this month doctors from Uckfield, Lewes and Crowborough stopped the closure of the ward by agreeing to work for free until April 2008, but the GPs believe finances at the hospital are being drained by medically-fit patients who stay too long at the hospital because there is nowhere else for them to go.

Bed-blocking, also known as delayed transfers of care, has been an issue for hospitals across the south and Dr Clarissa Fabre from the Buxted Medical Practice has said it's been a major problem at the Uckfield hospital.

She said: 'The nurses and patients have been very pleased about last weeks' announcement but the hospital is by no means out of the woods because it's only a six-month scheme.

'The primary care trust (the NHS trust which pays for services at the community hospital) still has to make a lot of savings.

'They want a quicker turn-around of patients but the main reason a lot of people are stuck in there is because social services is not able to pay for or find anywhere else for them to go after their treatment.'

Dr Fabre accepted social services had funding problems of its own but called for county hall to work with GPs to do something about bed-blocking.

She also called for a representative from social services to attend a meeting on October 2 when GPs will discuss the future of the hospital with the PCT.

The Express contacted East Sussex County Council to find out if this would happen but the council said the hospital was not its responsibility.

The county council issued the following statement: 'The most recent figures that we have show no delayed discharges caused by adult social care.

'We are working closely with the PCT to provide the best possible care to the residents of East Sussex.

'The future of Uckfield Community Hospital is a matter for the PCT and it will be determined by them.'