OXFORD University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has re-iterated there is ‘still a long way to go’ to tackle bed-blocking as it was revealed 100 people were stuck in hospital this week who could have been discharged.

Across the system, and at other Oxfordshire trusts, the total figure was 180.

Last year 140 beds were closed and £5m reinvested in a new ‘liaison hub’ for older people waiting for home care, as well as a new home assessment reablement team (HART) to support them in the transition.

Medical director Tony Berendt said: “These individuals are effectively trapped in hospital because they are unable to access domiciliary care.

“While they are in that environment, they are in a place of safety, but one that is unfamiliar. They may have a degree of cognitive impairment or be easily confused and distressed. An acute hospital is full of changes.

“We felt it was better to move patients into an environment that was more friendly and more homely.”

Paul Park, a GP and locality clinical director for north Oxfordshire, said the transfer of patients into the community had been ‘surprisingly painless’ for GPs.

He said: “There was significant concern there would be pressure to pick up the slack. Actually the whole project has been very effective in not increasing GPs’ workload. Speaking to other GPs in the county that has uniformly been the case.”