'Priority' to unblock beds in Sussex hospitals

The NHS in Sussex plans to cut the umber of patients stuck in a hospital bed by a third by March

The NHS in Sussex says it is a "priority" to reduce the number of patients in hospital beds who are medically fit for discharge.

There are currently 760 patients in beds who no longer need medical treatment. A reduction of 23 since last month, NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) says.

The ICB says it has plans to reduce the number of people who remain in a hospital bed, but are medically ready to leave by a third by March 2025.

Chief nursing officer for the ICB, Allison Cannon, said: "We recognise that by solving this problem it will create some capacity and movement for patients through the hospital."

The NHS in Sussex is one of six areas in the country designated as "discharge frontrunners", with the aim of involving health and social care partners locally to work together to improve and speed up patient discharges.

The ICB has acknowledged that too many patients in an inpatient bed no longer have a health-related need to be in hospital, known as bed-blocking.

Apart from causing a lack of available beds across the system, it can also increase risks to the patients - as they may be exposed to infection and deteriorate in hospital, and those waiting for inpatient care.

However almost 17% of all acute hospital spaces in the county are occupied by someone who does not need the bed, the NHS says.

Ms Cannon said: "We want to work with families to make sure people get home as quickly as possible."