AN ambitious new drive to cut record levels of bed-blocking in half within just 12 weeks has been launched by the trust that runs Barrow's hospital.

It is hoped the innovative move will free up around 60 beds every day that are occupied by patients deemed medically fit for discharge.

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The project will see hospital leaders, doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers working together to ensure people can leave the hospital as soon as possible once they are found to be fit to return home.

Social care assessments are being carried out earlier to reduce delays and prescriptions are now being delivered to patients by 10am every morning so they do not have to wait for their medication before leaving the ward.

Jackie Daniel, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said the success of the scheme will be assessed at regular intervals so that its effectiveness can be monitored closely.

She said: "This work will enable us to make the step change and we’ll be reviewing progress in 30, 60 and 90 days from now. 

"It is a great example of our Better Care Together strategy in action, a good precursor to how we want to work as Bay Health Partners."

Bed-blocking is when a patient no longer needs hospital care but remains on a ward because they are waiting for an assessment of their needs, a care package to be put in place or for a nursing home place to become available.

The issue has reached record levels this winter at Furness General Hospital, in Barrow, as well as at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary – with patients staying in hospital for an average of 11 extra days after they are found to no longer require acute medical care.

Trust bosses were awarded £3.879m from the government to pay for winter resilience measures in 2014/15.

However, the grant was slashed to one third,  £1.265m, for this winter.