THE number of patients blocking hospital beds in Gwent rose by almost a quarter during September, to 112.

The 24.4 per cent increase, from 90 in August, continues a rollercoaster few months for the situation around delayed transfers of care (DToC) - the official term for bedblocking - in Gwent.

The area's acute hospitals were extremely busy, particularly during the early part of September, with a high volume of older patients with complex problems being admitted, and this s likely to have been impacted in part on the availability for some of care home places.

But the situation regarding DToCs - patients remaining in hospital after they are deemed fit for discharge - has fluctuated sharply in Gwent hospitals.

From a figure of 108 in April, they fell to 65 in May, before rising to 114 in June and falling back to 76 in July, since when they have risen sharply again.

The biggest reason for the latest monthly increase in Gwent is an rise in waits for healthcare assessments and healthcare arrangements to be completed or finalised prior to patients being discharged.

Care home selection issues and waits for places to become available in the care home of a patient's choice remain significantly contributors to overall DToC numbers.

Across Wales in September, 495 patients were classified as delayed transfers of care, up from 440 in August.

All seven health board areas recorded increases during September, and Gwent's was the biggest, but the overall downward trend in DToC numbers appears to have stalled.