One psychotic patient, newly assessed for detention under the Mental Health Act, awaits confirmation of an
available bed before the legal paperwork is completed.
But due to lack of facilities, staff could not admit her and rang around neighbouring hospitals in Birmingham, only to find the nearest
available bed was in Manchester.
Debbie Niblett went into labour but had to be taken by ambulance to the nearest
available bed - in Oldham, Greater Manchester.
A spokesman said: "We are using every
available bed and trolley."
But due to a shortage of beds, staff could not admit her and rang around neighbouring hospitals, only to find the only
available bed was 110 miles away in the Manchester area.
Another national first for the region was the hospital "throughput" rate with nearly 43 cases treated per
available bed.
Yesterday trial judge Mr Justice Treacy delayed sentencing Sofan, after being told that it had proved impossible to find an
available bed within a secure psychiatric unit.
"The main cause of delays for emergency admissions continues to be the lack of an
available bed.
Among the main reasons for delay were the lack of an
available bed in a nursing or residential home,or lack of funding for a place,in more than 300 cases in September.
"We are very aware that the number one cause for delays in A&E is the lack of an
available bed for patients to be admitted to.
"The trust is very well aware that the number one cause for delays in the A&E department at the University Hospital of Wales is the lack of an
available bed into which a patient can be admitted.
Within two hours, the family were assured that Walton Hospital on Merseyside had agreed to accept him as an emergency, but that confirmation of an
available bed was still awaited.