Bed-blocking costs £500 a minute

HOSPITAL bed-blockers are costing the NHS more than £500 a minute, according to the latest calculations.

The price tag covers the cost of keeping vulnerable older patients on wards when they are well enough to be discharged but are waiting for home care services to be arranged.

The analysis by Age UK said hospitals are losing almost £300million a year – equivalent to £550 per minute – looking after patients who cannot go home. It said the failure to find cash to pay for basic care – such as helping people with dressing, washing and preparing meals – meant ministers were wasting the money being poured into the NHS.

Caroline Abrahams of Age UK said: ‘If an older person needs social care but cannot get it this is a sure-fire recipe for them to become weaker and less well.’