PATIENT departure lounges could be created within the area's hospital as part of an innovative scheme to free up beds this winter.

The idea could see a designated waiting area set up at Barrow's Furness General Hospital for people who are set to be discharged later the same day.

It has the potential to 'unblock' beds so people needing urgent medical care can be admitted - reducing the numbers of people who face long waits on trolleys in accident and emergency for available space on a ward.

RELATED ARTICLE: Days lost through Barrow hospital bed blocking at record high

Jackie Daniel, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said the development of 'lounges' for those leaving hospital was under consideration in a bid to improve the flow of patients through the hospital.

"Early review indicates that the vast majority are patients whose discharge is planned later in the day to tie into ongoing care packages.

"For example, if a care package starts at 5pm we arrange transport for 4pm.

"We are working with our partners to see what actions we can put into place to allow us to discharge the patient home earlier with the appropriate package in place.

"This might include defining what we need a discharge lounge to look like in terms of optimum size, a number of stretcher spaces, staffing and working with social care to have care packages starting at midday rather than 5pm."

At the moment, some patients stay in a hospital bed all day because their social care package - home carers or a nursing home place - is not available until 5pm.

While they are fit to leave hospital in the morning, transport is often arranged for 4pm to tie in with the availability of community support.

Under the mooted departure lounge scheme, patients could be discharged to a waiting area where they could be cared for until they leave hospital later in the day - freeing up vital bed space for more patients who need urgent hospital care.

The number of blocked beds across all hospitals run by UHMBT last week - including FGH, Westmorland General, in Kendal, and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary - was around 100 every day.

This represents a reduction from an average of 120 beds taken up by people who no longer need hospital care over the summer months.
A number of measures are already in place to help tackle this, with daily conferences taking place to discuss upcoming ward availability and food bags containing essential groceries for elderly people as they leave.

A number of beds have also been commissioned for the winter at Risedale St Luke's Nursing Home, in Barrow, to provide recovery time before people return home.

READ MORE: Barrow hospital in the grip of bedblocking epidemic