Steep increase in number of trusts struggling with long stay patients

HSJ analysis of NHSE winter sitrep data released last week shows that at least a fifth of hospital patients at 31 trusts had been there for 21 days or more in the week of 29 November. Just 12 trusts were in this position during the same week last year.

Data on discharges released for the first time by NHSE yesterday also reveal the challenge faced by many trusts in discharging ‘medically fit’ patients to free up beds for emergency or elective patients.

NHSE says that more than one in 10 beds during the last week of November were occupied by patients who were medically fit to leave.

Trusts with the highest proportion of 21 day stays

Further HSJ analysis of these new discharge figures reveals that, at 19 trusts, at least a fifth of their patients were medically fit for discharge in the week of 29 November.

At 13 trusts, at least 10 per cent of patients were both medically fit for discharge and had been in hospital for 21 days or more. 

HSJ has contacted all the trusts listed for comment.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals FT told HSJ it has a higher number of longer stay patients due to a number of tertiary services, including a spinal centre.

But Michael Harper, chief operating officer of the trust, added: “there is no doubt that we are also seeing increased volumes and complexity of patients as we begin to see the impact of the pandemic materialise on [people’s] health.”

Trusts with the highest proportion of medically fit patients

A spokeswoman for North Cumbria Integrated Care FT told HSJ: ”We have high numbers of patients who no longer need hospital care, but they are unable to be discharged due to shortages of appropriate placements and care packages in the community.

”One of the ways we are currently working to support patient discharges from hospital is by recruiting additional homecare practitioners to provide short term care in patients’ homes.”

Both Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust told HSJ that their local health and care systems are under significant pressures and are “working closely” with partners to reduce discharge delays.

Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “As we head into a very challenging winter, we are working with partners in social care to get as many patients who are fit to do so home for Christmas, which is right for them and their families as well as freeing up beds.”