Bed blocking increase causes headache for Carmarthenshire

A significant rise in bed blocking in Carmarthenshire is causing concerns for local representatives after the number of individuals awaiting social care doubles.

Local Councillors in Carmarthenshire have raised concerns that the rise in cases of delayed transfer of care, often referred to as bed blocking, poses significant risks to the authority’s ability to manage the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to data from the Welsh Government, 182 individuals over the age of 75 were kept in hospital during 2019/20 while waiting for social care.

The reasons given for the majority of bed blocking cases were said to be an inability by Carmarthenshire Council to arrange community care or awaiting a care assessment. 

In addition to the significant rise in bed blocking cases, a survey has found that a majority of Carmarthenshire residents do not feel that there’s a good social care service available in their area. According to the National Survey for Wales, 52.5% of participants felt that the social care provision in Carmarthenshire was not good enough.

Carmarthenshire Labour Councillors have stated that the data is extremely concerning, as the Country prepares for a challenging winter due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. 

Concerns have also been raised that some of the issues may be over the Plaid Cymru-led Council relying on private companies to deliver care, with a significant increase in revenue spent on private care homes. In the last two years, there has been an additional £5.2m spent on private care home contracts – with almost three-quarters of all residential care funds going to private companies.

Opposition Leader, Cllr Rob James, stated “The latest figures on bed blocking in our County is extremely concerning for us, especially when it appears that the majority of the issues surround an inability to arrange community care.

“We have an extremely challenging winter ahead with the on-going Coronavirus pandemic and we need to be confident that there is a proper transfer of patients from hospitals into the community. 

“It is vital that the issues surrounding bed blocking of elderly patients be addressed immediately, to ensure the wellbeing of local residents.”

Cllr Kevin Madge, Opposition Spokesperson for Social Care, added “It is clear that local residents are becoming aware of the issues in care services across Carmarthenshire, with the survey showing a majority of residents believe that care services are simply not good enough.

“Having established a meals on wheels service in the Amman Valleys during the pandemic, I have seen that the Council are far too complacent on the wellbeing of elderly residents. We are now calling on Plaid Cymru Councillors to lift the blocks on meals on wheels services being set up in other areas of the county.

“The over reliance of this Plaid Cymru-led Council to provide care privately does not offer good value for money and is clearly contributing to these awful statistics. The care and wellbeing of local residents must be first priority for an administration.

“I will look to meet with Officers in the coming days to discuss what measures are being put in place to ensure that we do not have elderly residents stuck in hospital beds over winter.”