‘The recent case of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust v Mercer [2024] EWHC 2515 spotlights the pressing issue of “bed-blocking” in NHS hospitals. In May 2024, over 12,000 patients in England were in hospital who no longer needed to be there, yet remained in hospital, often due to care planning delays. The Judge in this case, HHJ Tindal, gave legal and practical guidance in the form of a checklist for hospitals seeking possession in relation to patients whose refusal to leave hospital is not thought to be affected by mental health or mental capacity issues.’
Local Government Lawyer, 14th February 2025
Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk
