According to new NHS England data, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has seen a reduction in available overnight hospital beds compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The big picture: The Trust's bed occupancy rate has risen to 94.7%, up from 89% in the same period in 2019. This mirrors a national trend of increasing pressure on NHS resources.
By the numbers:
1,269 overnight beds were available on average each night at the Trust in April, May and June
96.2% of general and acute care beds were occupied
66.8% of maternity beds were occupied
Why it matters: High occupancy rates can lead to treatment delays and force hospitals to care for patients in inappropriate settings.
What they're saying: Dr John Dean, clinical vice president at the Royal College of Physicians, said: "Consistently high occupancy rates are leading to significant delays in treating newly presenting patients."
Between the lines: The NHS faces challenges discharging patients who no longer require hospital care. Delays affect about 12,000 beds per day, often due to a lack of space in social care.
An NHS England spokesperson said they're working to increase acute care beds and tackle delayed discharges, aiming "to ensure patients who no longer require hospital treatment can return home or be cared for in a more appropriate place for them as soon as possible."
The bottom line: The NHS acknowledges it has more to do "to deliver more timely care" as high occupancy rates continue to pressure the healthcare system.
