"More physio staff needed"

My partner was recently an in patient on Jubilee Ward. He had a hip replacement surgery. His care was nothing short of exemplary. The ward staff were all caring and professional. The ward was constantly being cleaned and I noticed that an engineer was maintaining and cleaning the air conditioning system also.

I do not have a complaint but more a constructive criticism.

My partner was due to be released. He was waiting on a physiotherapist to show him how to walk up and down stairs safely before they could release him.

At the time of writing, we had been waiting for over six hours.

Meanwhile another patient was sitting in a tub chair in reception waiting for a bed to be admitted into. He had been here all day.

There are apparently only two physiotherapists on duty for the entire hospital. With more physio staff to clear the patients waiting to leave the hospital, this backlog would presumably not have occurred and beds would be available so much quicker. The nursing staff were completely ready for my partner to leave. All his checks and medications were done.

The recovery team were on the phone searching for another bed for the man in reception as there were none available due to beds being broken and out of service. This cannot be reasonable ? Why has this situation got out of hand.

To conclude ; two things may have solved this delay.

Engineers to fix the broken beds.

More physio staff on morning weekend shifts to clear the patients to leave before lunchtime, this opening up bed spaces for new admissions.