Trusts fall far short of NHSE discharge target

NHS trusts have been unable to get anywhere close to the target for reducing delayed discharges set by NHS England last month ahead of the omicron wave.

The latest NHSE data shows that, in the week beginning 27 December, there were on average 9,857 medically fit for discharge adult patients occupying hospital beds.

This is just 836 fewer than the average of 10,693 in the week of 13 December. This was when NHSE told trusts to discharge at least half of their medically fit patients to free up beds ahead of a surge in Covid patients.

The news follows ministers announcing £300m would be invested into the adult social care workforce to fund community placements to aid discharges. However, in the letter on 13 December, NHSE said “a significant proportion of discharge delays are within the gift of hospitals to solve”.

Meanwhile, ambulance handover delays remained a near record high levels last week as the urgent and emergency care system showed clear signs of pressure, including massive demand on NHS 111.

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Source: HSJ, 7 January 2022