A&E doctors warn over patient delays
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine say “exit block” has increased over the winter as A&E units have struggled to deal with growing numbers of sick patients who need beds.
In a new report, it said action must be taken to tackle the problem which were causing hundreds of deaths a year.
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Hide AdIt said: “We know that exit block causes serious harm and results in potentially avoidable patient deaths.”
Its president Cliff Mann, said: “Exit block remains a serious problem and is continuing to impact severely on patient safety.
“We know that where exit block occurs, mortality rates increase, operations are delayed, and overworked staff in A&E departments experience stress and burnout. We’re calling on hospital chiefs across the country to implement our recommendations for tackling this pernicious problem.”
British Medical Association chairman Mark Porter said: “Exit block is real and, as this report highlights, is letting down patients who depend on emergency departments. This is because exit block, coupled with a shortage of hospitals beds, can leave patients waiting for hours on trolleys or admitted to an inappropriate ward for their needs, affecting the quality of care they receive.
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Hide Ad“Problems at the hospital front door are often linked to delays at the back door. Delays in discharging patients, often due to a lack of available care in the community, have a knock on effect on patient flow across a hospital - just one example of pressure in one part of the system spilling over into other parts.”