The blocked bed: a prospective study.

A prospective study of all patients (15 years and over) admitted to acute medical beds at a medium sized general hospital was carried out. For each patient, demogaphic data, day and time of admission, consultant in charge and the main reason for admission, were recorded. The patients hospital stay was analysed to determine the extent of the bed blocking problem. Sixty-two percent of total days stay required acute medical intervention, 32% was spent receiving nursing care only, 4% paramedical activities and 3% awaiting outside medical consultations. The three major factors found to influence total days stay were age, living situation and reason for admission. Patients over 75 years, living alone or who were admitted with a cerebrovascular accident/for nursing care were identified as bed blockers. An age related geriatric service may speed up the recovery of these patients and result in a more appropriate use of hospital resources.