I NOTE the coverage of bed-blocking in the NHS ("Bed-blocking is costing the NHS £300,000 every day, reveals study", The Herald, October 23, and Letters, October 24), especially due to the lack of social care facilities in the community, there is an aspect of this problem that has never been grasped and indeed totally ignored by policy makers and administrators.
Ever since the closure of hospitals such as Lennox Castle, the policy makers have always refused to accept that some people have complex needs which models of care in the community do not and indeed cannot cater for.
Our son, who has learning disabilities with complex needs, is once again bed-blocking in an NHS facility. This is due to the lack of any provision in the community which can give him competent, secure care. This is after many years of vast sums of money being invested in his care and different types of provision being tried. The only place he has ever had any long spells of contentment, security and competent care is when he hits another huge crisis in his life and has to return to the NHS. (I know he is not unique and many others like him exist).
It has been stated time and again by parents and relatives like ourselves, that what the system is crying out for is for an appreciation of the existence of people like our son. They require the provision of a hybrid unit combining the NHS and social services where a suitable health care plan can be provided, and residents can enjoy safe integration in the community to the full extent of their capabilities.
Once this great need is recognised, accepted and provided for, then a significant reduction in bed blocking would be achieved.
James Kelly,
212 Hamilton Road, Mount Vernon, Glasgow.
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