THE county’s key health organisations have made a commitment to resolve issues raised over hospital discharges following an extraordinary meeting held by the county’s health and care scrutiny committee today, Tuesday.

The chairman of the committee called for the meeting following serious concerns about statements made to the media by Frank Harsent, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust about the time taken to discharge patients.

Representatives from Gloucestershire County Council, NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust attended the meeting to discuss the issues raised and the underlying problems that led to the claims.

At the close of the meeting, the chairman of the health and scrutiny committee, an independent board with oversight of services that impact on the health of local people, requested that each partner organisation meet to agree a way forward.

Steve Lydon, chairman of the heath and care scrutiny committee, said: “Achieving the best outcome of patients must be our top priority. If there is an issue of bed blocking, then we all need to play our part in resolving it. This isn’t about blame to any one organisation, it’s about finding a solution.

“Organisations that are involved with people’s care need to work together in order to make sure we achieve the best outcome for patients.

“I would like each organisation to draw up a statement of intent that can be brought to the next health and overview scrutiny meeting in the new year.”

The health and care scrutiny committee will meet on Tuesday, January 13 at the county council’s Shire Hall.