Hospitals in North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust unable to discharge over three quarters of patients

In North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust between July 1 2022 and June 30 2023 on an average night 76.6 per cent patients who had been identified as ready to be discharged that day were still occupying a bed at midnight.

This is 18.8 percentage points higher than the average figure for trusts across England (57.8 per cent).

On the worst day 100 per cent of patients classed as 'no longer meeting the criteria' to be in hospital were still occupying beds at midnight.

The day when the most patients were left in hospital was Monday April 10 2023 when 99 who could have been discharged were still in the hospital at the end of the day.

The proportion of patients ready to be discharged but still occupying beds was worst on Saturdays, when 92.6 per cent of patients identified as ready to be discharged that day were still occupying a bed at midnight.

The statistics have not surprised patient advocacy group People First, who are based in Cumbria.

They recently consulted a number of patients on their experience on hospital discharge.

Director Lindsay Graham said: "We regularly engage with people to gather their experiences of using those health services.

"With regards to people waiting for discharge what we hear about is they waiting for support from other services. They are waiting for beds in other settings, maybe they're moving to other settings, moving to residential care or even waiting for care and support in their own homes.

"Some challenges that patients have reported is on communication around discharge. Sometimes people don't know what's happening or when they are going to be discharge. However I do know the steps the trust are putting in place in regards to discharge navigators to make sure people are informed.

"What we hear particularly from unpaid carers when people are discharged is around that they don't really understand the level of need that the patient being discharged has got, and that can put pressure on carers."

Despite the initial concerns raised though, it appears feedback over discharges made to People First has begun to improve in the time since the statistics above was gathered.

Lindsay added: "I think there has definitely bee more positive experiences shared recently, but there is still a journey to keep goin on though for all trusts across the country.

"The trust can only do so much, all services need to support each other, including the wider health and social care sector and even the voluntary sector.

"Some people can't get out of hospital because they can't physically transport themselves home, and they might need somebody to come and help get their home ready for them if they've got no family and friends and they live independently in the community. That's where the voluntary sector offers that practical support, and that's really invaluable."

In a statement responding to the figures, a spokesman for the trust said: "Delayed discharges have been in issue in north Cumbria for some time. There are a number of reasons for this including challenges within the care market, recruitment, our rurality and a higher proportion of older people who need support.

"North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have been working with our system partners to address the challenges and together we have developed a number of initiatives and schemes that have made significant improvements.

"Our Transfer of Care Hub has staff from hospital, community, social care and the third sector who are all working together to make sure patients have the care they need when they are ready to leave hospital. Our discharge to assess process means patients are not delayed in hospital waiting for assessments as these take place in their home with the relevant support arranged there. Both of these schemes have been nationally recognised as best practice.

"Working together we have also increased home care capacity and intermediate care beds which provide enhanced care for those who need support before they can go home but who don’t need to be in hospital. We are continuing to work together to make sure that patients are getting the right care in the right place at the right time."