Near full occupancy - health minister
Most spaces at Island nursing and residential homes are taken, the Island's Health Minister has admitted.
Between March and December last year, 95% of nursing care beds were occupied, while 97% of beds were full at residential homes.
Kate Beecroft admitted the shortage of spaces is causing a 'bed blocking' problem at Noble's - where elderly patients have to wait for care home vacancies before they can be released.
She added the average waiting list varied significantly, depending on factors such as the size of home, location and care fees.
In the House of Keys today (28 Feb) Mrs Beecroft also revealed beds at government-run residential homes were allocated on a priority basis - as opposed to via a waiting list - and average occupancy stood at 87.2%.
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