Read our report about delayed discharge below!
Delayed discharges from hospitals hit the headlines every winter when demand for acute hospital services increase. There are numerous studies relating to this issue, but these largely focus on what happens to patients on the day of discharge, identifying problems relating to transport and awaiting receipt of discharge medication. Once a patient has completed their treatment and is ready for discharge, they will be assessed against the ‘right to reside’ criteria. If they no longer meet this, they are deemed as having ‘no right to reside’ (previously known as bed blocking) in a hospital bed and need to be discharged to either their own home or alternative place of care
We spoke to patients on wards at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Leigh Infirmary and the two-community bed-based services commissioned by Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board providing Intermediate Care, Discharge to assess services and stroke rehabilitation. Patients were identified to us from the ‘No right to reside’ list and were able to give their consent to share their story. Patients and relatives told us that the discharge process was complex and confusing. Communication proved to be difficult, and it felt that there was no joined up working or coordination. Multiple moves around the hospital and into community services led to confusion, miscommunication and lack of any continuity which inevitably led to duplication. In addition, patients and relatives made comment about deconditioning and the impact on mood as patients lack stimulation in hospital.
There are multiple teams involved in discharge planning and there seemed to be a lack of understanding of roles and responsibilities by some teams and ward staff. Ward staff expressed particular frustration at feeling distant from the discharge planning process for their patients. Patients told us of having to repeat their story many times, of feeling that their wishes were not listened to and often overruled either by family members or staff as ‘they knew better’. Concerns were expressed by patients and relatives about the amount of therapy available on both the discharge ward and in community services as this was not made clear. In fact, they were often led to believe they would receive more intervention than was the reality. There has been some informal feedback to WWL NHS who have welcomed our findings, and they have been given the opportunity to respond to the content of this report.
The Report
Read below, our delayed discharge report. See the findings and more.
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