Speedy discharge aim at Warrington Hospital to stop bed blocking

This comes as new figures show nine in 10 patients deemed fit to leave the hospitals failed to be discharged in one week.

Patients should leave hospital on the same day they are assessed as fit for discharge, NHS guidance states.

NHS England data shows 138 patients at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were eligible for discharge on January 16 – the latest available data.

However, only 14 left hospital that day, meaning 124 (90 per cent) continued to occupy a bed.

The figures include 92 patients deemed fit to leave who had been in hospital for at least three weeks on January 16 – of whom only two were discharged that day.

Across England, more than 12,700 patients – 73 per cent of those ready for discharge on January 16 – continued to occupy a hospital bed.

Dan Moore, chief operating officer for Warrington and Halton hospitals, said the statistics should not put people off from seeking hospital help if it is needed.

He commented: “Like many other hospitals around the country, we are experiencing ongoing challenges around timely patient discharge for high numbers of patients well enough to leave hospital.

“This then creates pressures on our capacity.

“We are working with our system partners to look at all available options so that we can as soon practically possible free up beds for urgent patients.

“Meanwhile, the public should be reassured that essential services remain open for anyone that needs them, and we would encourage anyone who requires urgent medical help to continue to come forward.

Halton Hospital

“We remain profoundly grateful to the heroic efforts of NHS and social care staff in our areas, who have already gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our patients receive the highest standards of care throughout this difficult time.”

Separate NHS England data shows an average of 450 staff at the trust were off sick across the week to January 9, with an average of 186 (41 per cent) off because they had Covid-19 or were self-isolating due to the virus.

Meanwhile, waiting lists for routine treatments are also at an all-time high nationally, with six million people waiting for non-urgent elective operations or treatment at the end of November, up from 5.98 million the month before.

NHS England figures show 22,106 patients at Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust were on the waiting list at the end of the month – though this was 201 fewer than the month before.

Tim Gardner, senior policy fellow at charity the Health Foundation, said issues stem from a lack of suitable capacity outside acute hospitals.

He said: “Problems with discharges often lead to problems admitting patients to wards from A&E departments.

“Patients who no longer require acute care may still need a combination of social care or non-acute NHS care in the community, but a lack of support following discharge means too many remain in hospital for longer than necessary.

“Reducing these longer stays would help to alleviate pressures on hospitals, creating capacity that could be better used to address the backlog of care built up during the pandemic.”

He added that staff shortages were also playing a part and a system overhaul was required to address the problems.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said staff are going ‘above and beyond’ looking after thousands of Covid patients, while also administering hundreds of thousands of Covid vaccines.

He added: “No one wants to spend more time in hospital than needed, and local NHS services are continuing to work closely with social care providers so patients can be discharged when they are fit to leave.

“As the NHS once again ramps up to deal with what is going to be an incredibly challenging winter, the best thing you can do to help is to come forward and get your jab.”