Keeping patients in hospital too long compromises their independence and prevents others being treated, according to the auditor general for Wales.

In a report on delayed transfers published on Thursday, the watchdog concluded that the healthcare system needed to be systematically changed.

The report focuses on the outcome when a patient is not moved to the next stage of care, and claims that they can lose their mobility and mental and physical abilities as a result.

It added that the delays can also lead to poorer performance across the entire health and social care network, with unnecessarily occupied beds preventing treatments.

The inquiry, which will inform an Assembly-commissioned review, noted that the number of days people spent in hospital had increased by two per cent since 2005.

It found several weaknesses after patients had been admitted to hospital, particularly with transfers between health and social care services.

Auditor general Jeremy Colman said: "Unnecessary delays in hospital are bad for the patients who are delayed and bad for the people who need to go into hospital but cannot.

"To tackle this very complex problem in Wales, the Assembly Government and health and social care bodies need to adopt more effective and mature systems thinking, more consistent adoption of good practice and to work together more effectively."