Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has warned of a “national emergency” caused by the “social care crisis” after figures revealed bed blocking is taking up to one in three hospital beds.

House of Commons Library research, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, shows there is an average of 13,662 patients a day stuck in hospital despite being medically fit to leave.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The social care crisis is turning into a national emergency, after years of neglect under this failing Conservative government.

“Thousands of people are being left stranded in hospitals every day waiting for the care they need, while the NHS buckles under the strain. Elderly relatives stuck alone in overcrowded hospital wards, when they could be being cared for at home or with their families if the right support was there.

“There is a deafening silence from Rishi Sunak and his government about what they will do to fix the mess they have made.

“The Liberal Democrats have set out the big ideas we need to solve the crisis in social care along with the crisis in the NHS. We would make sure everyone can get the care they need, in their homes if possible.”

Croydon (33%) was the worst affected area with one in three hospital beds taken up by delayed discharges.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh was second worst impacted with 29% of available beds taken up by patients well enough to be discharged. This was followed by the Isle of Wight (28%) North Bristol (26%) and Warrington and Halton (25%).

The Southwest was the worst hit region with 17% of beds occupied by patients fit to leave, followed closely by the Southeast at 16.5%. This compared to 9% of beds taken up by delayed discharges in the East of England the lowest rate in the country.

The King’s Fund has calculated it costs the NHS £395 a night to care for someone when they could be discharged. The direct costs of delayed discharges in 2022/23 was £1.9 billion.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a Carer’s Minimum Wage, set at £2 above the minimum wage, to tackle huge workforce shortages in the care sector. Ed Davey has also written to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer calling for cross-party talks on the long-term funding of social care.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive, NHS Providers, said: “Thousands of hospital beds are taken up every day by patients stuck in hospital when they don’t need to be, often because of the strain on overstretched social care and community services.

“Persistent delays discharging patients who are fit enough to continue recovery at or close to home adds to the growing pressure right across the health and care system. The knock-on effects on people, accident and emergency departments and ambulances waiting to hand over patients are huge.

“Long overdue reform and adequate, sustainable funding of social care is needed urgently if we are to address the worrying number of delayed discharges.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We’re taking action to ensure the health and care system works closely together to tackle delayed discharge, including investing an additional £1 billion this year to support the NHS and local authorities to ensure timely and effective discharge from hospital.

“The government has now made available up to £8.6 billion in additional funding over financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 to strengthen adult social care provision and discharge.”