The latest delayed discharge figures published by NHS England today has shown that numbers are the highest since records began in 2010. You can find out more information here.
Vicky McDermott, Chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said:
“More people are being kept in hospital unnecessarily because of failures in the health and social care system. Delayed discharge is at a record high, with figures for August showing the highest monthly level since records began in 2010 (1). This not only piles needless pressure on the NHS, but is also damaging to patients.
“A million hospital days were lost because of delayed discharge in 2015, costing the NHS £2.4 billion (1). It’s also estimated that money wasted by the NHS on excess bed days due to people awaiting home care could fund 5.2 million hours of home care (2).
“A third of bed days lost to delayed discharge are due to social care and the biggest reason for social care delays is ‘patients awaiting a care package in their home’.
“There are at least 1 million people (3) not getting help with their basic needs and there will be an estimated shortfall of almost £1 billion this year alone (4). The Government needs to urgently fill the gap in social care funding.”
Note to Editors
1) https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/06/July-16-DTOC-SPN.pdf
2) UKHCA Briefing Delayed Discharge and Home Care Nov 2015 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/(S(conocuzeeaul52vux5rybtqb))/pdfs/DelayedDischargesandHomecareVersion1.1(2).pdf
3) Age UK, Health and Care of Older People in England 2015, October 2015
4) ADASS budget survey 2016 https://www.adass.org.uk/adass-budget-survey-2016-full-report
The Care and Support Alliance represents more than 80 of Britain’s leading charities campaigning alongside the millions of older people, disabled people and their carers who deserve decent care
For press enquiries contact: Muna Suleiman at csa@nas.org.uk and on 0207 923 5723
