Portsmouth explores extra care beds amid hospital discharge delays

Portsmouth could get extra care beds to help ease pressure on Queen Alexandra Hospital, as patients face delays leaving hospital for community care.

Portsmouth City Council is considering 20 extra short-term care beds to help patients leave hospital sooner.

The council will assess the feasibility of providing the beds in November and December. It will also review how well the existing Summerlee Unit helps patients return home after a hospital stay.

The plans come amid pressure on Queen Alexandra Hospital, where patients who are well enough to leave can face delays while waiting for care or support.

The council report says delays are caused by a lack of capacity in rehabilitation, recovery support and residential care.

The 20 discharge to assess bed would allow patients who are medically fit to leave hospital can move to a care setting or their own home, where their longer-term needs are assessed.

The report warns that Portsmouth will need more residential and nursing care as its population ages, but there are limited places available.

Care homes in the city are already operating at high occupancy, with residential homes at 86 per cent and nursing homes at 89 per cent.

The council has the second-lowest number of care home beds per 100,000 adults in the South East, according to the report.

Demand for residential care placements is forecast to rise from 396 in 2025 to 492 by 2040. Nursing care demand is expected to increase from 266 to 343 placements.

In November last year, the hospital reported 269 patients who “don’t meet the criteria to reside” which creates longer waits for other patients.

In September, a councillor raised concerns about “habitual residents” in hospital. The trust’s nurse director said they “take up a huge amount of time and resources in the emergency department”.

The council’s cabinet member for community wellbeing, health and care will determine the proposal on November 2.