RCS expresses concern over hospital bed overcrowding

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has raised concern that the high rate of hospital bed occupancy in the UK is placing patients at risk of infections.

John Black, president of the RCS, has stated the organisation’s commitment to effecting a reduction in the prevalence of bed overcrowding, stating that this will “significantly improve patient safety”.

This comes in response to the recent publication of the Department of Health’s bed occupancy statistics, which show that general and acute beds are currently being used by patients almost 87 per cent of the time.

The RCS backed National Audit Office recommendations that this rate should not exceed 82 per cent, as anything higher may mean that insufficient time is allocated for beds to be properly cleaned and changed.

Mr Black added: “Bed occupancy rates above 82 per cent are a clear predictor of an increased risk of infection after an operation and patients should be given this information.”

Last month, the RCS responded favourably to new NHS guidelines which prioritise outcome measurement over arbitrary targets, describing the move as a “positive step”.