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The government has announced a £250 million funding boost to increase hospital bed capacity this winter as part of a plan to deliver an additional 5,000 permanent beds.
Initially, 900 new beds will be created, which includes over 60 intermediate care beds and improving assessment spaces and cubicles in A&E. This investment is part of the NHS urgent and emergency care recovery plan, published in January 2023,
The plan has been widely welcomed by health organisations, but concerns have been raised about having enough clinical professionals to staff these extra beds.
The NHS Confederation said increasing bed numbers is a sensible and necessary step to boost capacity and, if delivered, should help with both winter pressures and the timely care of the sickest patients. But added that questions remain on safety given that vacancy numbers remain high, the long-term workforce plan is in its infancy, and industrial action is ongoing.
“To give this initiative, and others, the best possible chance of success the government must find a way to bring nine months of strike action to a close,” it said.
The British Medical Association went as far as to call it disingenuous for the government to say it is preparing the NHS for winter when the winter pressures are year round in many places.
It added: “To hear that this money, announced in August, will not be available before January is a nonsense. The pressure on services will have increased months before that so rather than wait until January, let clinicians be the ones who decide when it is needed and where.”
Hospital bed capacity affected by delayed discharges
The King’s Fund also said that hospitals don’t work in isolation. The latest performance figures showed that 11,900 patients remained in hospital on an average day despite being medically fit to be discharged.
Chief Analyst Siva Anandaciva added: “To free up more beds and staff in hospitals, there needs to be a focus on boosting capacity in community and primary care settings as well as social care reform.
“Last year, we calculated that the direct cost of each delayed discharge was nearly £400 per night, and this added up to £1.9 billion spent over 2022/23. This shows that early investment for planning goes a long way to make better use of the NHS’s resources and improve care for patients.”
Thirty NHS organisations across England will benefit from the investment in urgent and emergency care services. This includes developing or expanding urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care services which will help patients to be seen more quickly, without being admitted to hospital. NHS England expects that the majority of schemes will be completed by January 2024 to help deal with winter pressures.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “We know that winter is a difficult time so we’re working to get ahead of pressures while also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. That’s why we’re investing this £250 million to support NHS capacity and deliver 900 new beds, as part of our drive to put in place 5,000 permanent additional beds.
“Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times and cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.”
The overall ambition for 5,000 additional core beds is being supported by £1 billion dedicated revenue funding to increase capacity in urgent and emergency care.