Anger over movement of patients

PATIENTS being routinely moved around hospitals should not be tolerated, a patients’ group has said.

The comments came after a survey by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) revealed that 80 per cent of doctors believe patients with specialist needs are being moved on to non- specialist wards because of a lack of appropriate beds.

The practice, known as “boarding”, traditionally increases during the winter because of seasonal bugs, but the report claims it is now regular practice all year round.

The RCPE said the survey had included doctors from every health board in Scotland.

Dr Jean Turner, executive director of the Scotland Patients’ Association, said: “Scotland Patients’ Association is extremely concerned, yet not surprised at the RCPE findings.

“Inability to discharge appropriately causes the boarding of patients to become the norm which should not be tolerated.”