"Empty beds but refused to take our Dad"

My father (83) is recovering from open chest heart surgery in Papworth.

They need his bed for another patient and he is ready to move on.

Unfortunately PWH Ely took a week to decide they would not take him for rehabilitation treatment, on the grounds that he does not live in the Ely area.

We do and so do other close relatives. Moving him here would allow us to continue to take some of the strain of supporting him through his rehab, before he is well enough to return home (to Suffolk).

But despite having a nearly empty ward (a rare thing surely in our hard pressed NHS), they have refused to take him, as it would be too administratively difficult for them to arrange his onward (home care) in neighbouring Suffolk.

So much for a joined up NHS!

When a bed in Suffolk becomes available, he will be moved there, but NHS will have to provide far more services than if his family were on the doorstep.

Madness.