This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Hospital beds at record low in England
Latest figures highlight that the number of hospital beds has fallen to its lowest level ever, despite the head of the NHS warning that bed closures have gone too far.
The disclosure, uncovered by a Labour analysis of official bed numbers from NHS Digital, show that the health service in England has cut so many beds in recent years that it has just 127,225 left to cope with the rising demand for care, which will intensify as winter starts to bite. In total, 17,230 beds have been cut from the 144,455 that existed in April-June 2010.
The 127,225 figure is the smallest number of beds available in acute hospitals, maternity centres and units specialising in the care of patients with mental health problems and learning disabilities since records began in 1987/88. A number of medical bodies have now warned that the loss of so many beds will damage the quality of care patients receive and leave hospitals even more ‘jammed’ than they are already.
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