Elderly lobby hits back at bed-blocking claims

A LOBBY group for the elderly has hit back at claims they are needlessly occupying hospital beds, arguing there is nowhere else for them to go.

Age Action Ireland said it was unfair to describe ageing patients as bed-blockers when the circumstances which forced them to remain in hospital were outside their control.

“We believe that to use the phrase ‘bed-blocker’ implies older people shouldn’t be in hospital, that they should make way for younger people.