What A Bizarre Idea

[237SJ]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5015583/NHS-chiefs-use-Airbnb-style-model-curb-bedblocking.html

[Bazile]

Isn't it just

[albaqwerty]

I think that's going to be open to abuse.

[trt]

Might save some people from paying bedroom tax!

[EDDIE51]

Sounds like a very good idea to me, there are 1000s of mainly old people who are blocking beds in hospitals because they have no safe place to be discharged to.

[jno]

what makes you think a spare bedroom with three meals a day is automatically going to be a safe place, Eddie? Recovering people need care, not a microwave.

[albaqwerty]

they have a safe place to be discharged to, it's their home. However, thanks to the NHS being in financial crisis not all eyes are dotted and tees crossed for folk to return home.

I still think it's open to abuse.

[Bazile]

backing off the idea

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-41763730

[TWR]

As Usual, divert the care from the NHS & put the onus on anyone.

[EDDIE51]

Most of the people live alone with no one to care for them, that is why they can not be discharged from hospital. Sending them back to their own home and getting a relative or carer to visit is probably even more open to abuse. At least there will be someone there if they do need help.
I still think it is one of the best ideas to help with the hospital bed shortage I have heard in a long time. It will need to be supervised and it is not perfect but I still think it is a lot better than the alternative.

[EDDIE51]

TWR previously these people would have been discharged to their own home with council provided visiting carers . But the cuts to council care budgets have stopped that.

[albaqwerty]

heard an update on the News this morning, apparently you need to have a second bathroom for your guest to use.

[jackthehat]

The NHS needs to look at the provision of proper Convalescent Homes or Cottage Hospitals as a way of freeing up 'critical' beds in hospital wards. These can be a halfway compromise to ensure that the patient continues to receive Nursing care before being discharged back to their own homes.

[TWR]

Im aware of that Eddie & also Bed Blocking, as said abuse would be open here, Physically/ Financially, should one of these person need Urgent medical attention I dread to think what could happen, that's my concern.

[pixie374]

It's not really any more bizarre than sending people home to untrained family and friends. At least these people are vetted and professional care is still given, so it's supervised too.

[albaqwerty]

Whilst I can see some sense, what I can't see is how many houses close to hospitals have a second bathroom for their guest.

As for 3 microwave meals a day, ugh, no thanks.

Really do think this well intentioned idea is going to fall flat on its face.

[pixie374]

...and preferably ground floor... There aren't really a lot of options. There isn't enough money.

[dannyk13]

This has been ditched until, and if, safeguards can be put in place.

[pixie374]

If only they did that for all home care.

[albaqwerty]

it's going to be trialled in Essex isn't it?
How many houses in Essex have a bathroom on ground floor?

It's well intentioned, but so many flaws.

I wish them well on their quest, futile as it seems to me :-(

[dannyk13]

Alba, see my post at 15.04.That was on news at 2pm.