A “MAJOR incident” hit two Gloucestershire hospitals leaving scores of patients in need of a bed.

51 patients needed beds at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.

The shortage was revealed at an extraordinary meeting held by the county’s health and care scrutiny committee on Tuesday, December 16.

Chairman of the committee Steve Lydon called for the meeting following serious concerns about statements made to the media by chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Frank Harsent 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.

Chairman of the heath and care scrutiny committee Steve Lydon said: “Achieving the best outcome for 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.