Press release: NHS Confederation responds to delayed discharge figures

02 Nov 2007

Commenting on the statistics, Jo Webber, Deputy Policy Director at the NHS Confederation, said:

"The NHS is committed to delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time and
there are incentives in place to ensure that discharge delays are avoided. No one should have to stay in hospital any longer than is necessary.

"There may be many different reasons for the increase in the figures; for example, local circumstances such as the supply of care home beds. Such difficulties will be of concern to both health and social care partners in an area.

"Systems need to be efficient but must also treat patients with dignity and enable them and their carers to make supported and informed choices about their destinations when they leave hospital. This can be a difficult balancing act and requires strong joint working between health and social care locally to make it happen."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

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