The trusts struggling most with delayed discharge ‘interface’ problems

The trusts struggling most on the number of delayed discharges caused by so-called “interface issues” between acute and other care services – mostly negotiations over care packages – are revealed by a new dataset.

HSJ has analysed the first three months’ worth of data from a new NHS England dataset which for the first time breaks down the causes of delayed discharges for patients in acute hospitals for 14 days or more.

At more than 20 trusts the majority of delayed discharges were caused by “interface issues”, referring to NHS trusts and system partners spending too long “brokering or discussing” patients’ onward care.

King’s Fund assistant policy director Alex Baylis said interactions between acute hospitals, other trusts and councils on discharges can vary by area and warned the relationships between some providers “lacks depth”.

Mr Baylis, who co-authored research on delayed discharges last year, added: “In some places they create this narrative that they are working together but when you scratch the surface there’s not the depth that’s needed.

“In research, our perception was some people had learned an acceptable vocabulary about working together but don’t necessarily have the same shared commitment behind that.”

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Source: HSJ, 2 October 2024