YORK MP Hugh Bayley has called on national health experts to investigate bed-blocking at the city's hospital.

Mr Bayley has asked the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) to look at the problems caused by delayed discharges at York District Hospital.

Delayed discharges involve patients who are well enough to leave hospital, but not well enough to go home.

They effectively clog ward beds because they are not transferred to nursing homes.

The CHI is due to review York NHS Trust's acute services in the autumn and Mr Bayley has met review manager Patricia Wilson to ask her to look at the delayed discharge problem.

Mr Bayley said: "An acute hospital is not the right place for an elderly person to stay long-term.

"You can't make a hospital homely. When someone is well enough to move to a nursing home, they should be able to move quickly.

"It's better for them, and it frees up a bed. The delayed discharge problem is costing our hospital millions and increasing waiting times for other people."

A York Health Services Trust spokesman said: "We acknowledge delayed discharges are a very serious issue at York District Hospital.

"We have held meetings at a senior level with the health authority and social services and will continue to work together to find a solution."

Mr Bayley has also asked the CHI to look at waiting times for surgery and to consider how much is spent per patient in York compared with other hospitals in the region.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, September 22, 2001