bed blockers adding to the lack of hospital beds

[newcovidisolations]

My mum was medically discharged to leave hospital into rehab (following a stroke) well over a month ago but due to no rehab beds being available she is still taking a hospital bed from someone who needs to be admitted from a&e. She has now tested positive for covid and despite no symptoms at all is now taking a private room on the ward for 7 days as they insist she isolates.

Over 3 weeks ago I rang every private rehab within 50 miles and none could assess her to see if she could transfer until 5th Jan. Despite fees of over £2k per week with extra charges for all physio.

She could possibly have regained mobility with daily physio in rehab had she been discharged weeks ago whereas now she could have far more care needs for the rest of her life.

The system appears broken to me and could affect any one of us and I cant understand the lack of protests. Any of us could need the hospital bed not just the elderly. Her ward is not just used for strokes.

why would they push the ill health narrative though? that's not particularly positive!

I am currently 50+ and economically inactive. I am an unpaid carer for my mother with early stage dementia, and for a young adult child with a newly diagnosed chronic health condition with multiple life-changing effects. I was also made mentally ill by my job, because the government underfunds and undermines it, though I nay be able to return to it at the same dramatically reduced levels that so many of my highly educated professional 50+ friends are now doing their jobs.

Anecdotally I know lots of 50 plus who have just chosen to retire earlier or lost their job & didn't bother looking for another.

I think it’s age in conjunction with that lack of quality of life. I think it would be unethical to allow euthanasia of severely disabled but younger people as they haven’t lived a full life.

I'd like to know how many have long covid

OK anecdote isn't data, but I know several people who just don't feel well enough to work full time since having covid, and have either reduced hours or retired early - or have been medically retired (or managed out) from work

It is easier and more positive for the Government to say ‘oh, she’s somewhat unwell and doesn’t choose to work’ rather than say ‘she’s an unpaid carer - because we provide no care for those she cares for - and has been made ill by the way we gave damaged her workplace’.

I may live in a particular bubble, but my personal circle is full of people - highly educated, professional women - making the same chpices.

@carltonscroop long covid is suspected to be a reason.

If I was ever to be in this position myself I have made it clear to DD and DH please don't let me suffer I don't want to be treated

I think you’re absolutely right but how could you actually enforce that? If they asked the doctors to stop treating you, would they?

Could be long covid of the person, or those they care for, also - it is very hard for carers of eg teens and young adults with Chronic Fatigue to work, and where severe enough to make the sufferer bed-bound, that applies to partners of adult sufferers as well.

The thing that is noticeable is the expectations. My view is that care for social issues and the very old is nearly entirely private- those of us at working age should make plans for a long and healthy retirement. The NHS does not have the capacity to meet the need now.

You can see what is really happening, which is women dropping out of work and to resume a caring function in society. A ticket to poverty in their own old age.

The NHS wasn't built to cope, and it isn't. Eventually they will just have to admit that care provision must be sourced by families after discharge, and all the responsibilities passed over to the family with community support.

Anecdotally I know lots of 50 plus who have just chosen to retire earlier or lost their job & didn't bother looking for another.

@bibbif how on earth can they afford to do that ? I am 50+ and cannot access my workplace or state pension until 67. What are they living off ?

Im more okay than anyone who uses the word ‘hun’ 😆

It is easier and more positive for the Government to say ‘oh, she’s somewhat unwell and doesn’t choose to work’ rather than say ‘she’s an unpaid carer - because we provide no care for those she cares for - and has been made ill by the way we gave damaged her workplace’.

I would argue economically it's less worrisome for someone to "drop out" of work to be a carer as they could perhaps step back in whereas ill health means more spending.

The gov have always relied on women in particular to provide care for older relatives.

How is it murder?

@BirmaBrite they are all pretty comfortable due to huge equity gains & BTLs. Im in London though.

those of us at working age should make plans for a long and healthy retirement.

and how can younger ones do this with the housing cost burden & crappier pensions?

@Cuppasoupmonster Don't get sarcasm then....

The unpaid 50+ carers in my circle are mostly living off family income (ie husbands who continue to work) combined with a significant reduction in living standards, in some cases downsizing. I don’t know anyone who has drawn a pension and all are compromising their future pensions. But where there us no other care, what options do they have? Few of us have it in us to watch an elderly beloved, and not yet dramatically infirm/ demented relative suffer actively poor care or no care.

You can see what is really happening, which is women dropping out of work and to resume a caring function in society. A ticket to poverty in their own old age.

Exactly this. But with women forming such a large proportion of many vital workforces - medicine, nursing, care, teaching to name a few - the loss is not only to the women themselves but also to society as a whole.

Each unpaid carer us a two-fold loss to the economy - their own employment (and taxes) AND the employment and taxes of the paid carer they replace.

My view is that care for social issues and the very old is nearly entirely private- those of us at working age should make plans for a long and healthy retirement. The NHS does not have the capacity to meet the need now.

The NHS does not provide social care or long term elderly care, it doesn't have the capacity because that isn't in its remit.
Private companies provide social care and long term elderly care, which comes out of a social care budget which is controlled by local councils. Their budgets have been decimated over the years whilst the need and cost has risen exponentially, bit of a perfect storm really, one which any decent meteorologist would have been able to predict !

@bibbif - not saying it is easy! But it needs thinking about. You have posters on here talking about relying on the state pension. My assumption is that I will never get one. Women need to plan their finances much more carefully. They are dropping out of employment with small pensions to rely on what? Maybe joint assets via marriage. But that is not a good idea imo.

This subject really shouldn't be so divisive. However, it speaks volumes about why society is so divided and what the political situation has created in the past decade or so.

Im not young but don't expect to see a pension or by default it will keep getting pushed out but I least I have a private one & have a home. I think the burden on the young in this country is tragic

I do it just wasn’t very good.