§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made to the calculation of bed blocking since 1997. [15319]
§ Jacqui SmithA blocked bed occurs when a patient is ready for transfer from an acute hospital bed but is still occupying that bed. That definition has not altered since 1997. Until recently, published statistics have been based on the number of beds occupied by people aged 75 years or more. Current and future statistics on bed blocking will include all blocked beds.