Patients in the UK could be sent to recover from surgery in private houses, in a scheme similar to that operated by Airbnb, as part of a new NHS trial. The scheme, which will be piloted in Essex by startup CareRooms, is designed to combat bed shortages and save money. “We may also look to take self-funding patients who pay us directly.” However, critics warn that it poses risks to patient safety. A study published on Monday found that patients who were treated at home had lower levels of pain relief than those given hospital treatment. The NHS has seen a 40% rise in so-called “bedblocking” in the past year, resulting in up to 8,000 deaths annually.
Patients in the UK could be sent to recover from surgery in private houses, in a scheme similar to that operated by Airbnb, as part of a new NHS trial. The scheme, which will be piloted in Essex by startup CareRooms, is designed to combat bed shortages and save money. However, critics warn that it poses risks to patient safety. A study published on Monday found that patients who were treated at home had lower levels of pain relief than those given hospital treatment. The NHS has seen a 40% rise in so-called “bedblocking” in the past year, resulting in up to 8,000 deaths annually.