Patients at risk due to early discharge from hospital
- 27.05.2016
- HannahBottomley
- Clinical-negligence, Opinion, Clinical-negligence, Opinion
I was interested but also slightly alarmed to read about the recent report conducted by the National Audit Office into the problems caused by delays in patients being released from hospitals. This is not a new issue and in fact here at PotterReesDolan we wrote about the Ombudsman’s concerns with the same problem recently.
This new report however is coming from different perspective, not one of patient complaints, but of the cost to the whole system caused by the delays. Such delays are estimated to cost an eye-watering £820m each year and are putting older patients at risk due to the loss of mobility seen during prolonged stays in hospital.
The two major factors identified by the report into the delays were waiting for nursing home places or home care to be arranged and it was stated that workforce shortages were likely to be the major cause of such waits. It is therefore the most vulnerable in our society who need extra support who are being put at risk.
Extended stays in hospital are a well-recognised problem for older patients, not only is the restricted movement seen to lead to a loss of mobility which can become permanent leading to the need for more care, but there is also the increased risk of infection.
I often hear the term “hospital acquired” in respect of conditions such as pneumonia and it is worrying to think that such conditions and the inevitable deterioration associated with contracting such a condition could be avoided with more availability and support outside hospitals.
I hope that the quote from the Department of Health spokesman in respect of additional funding to ensure no elderly patient remains in hospital longer than strictly necessary does prove to be the case and that those who can be moved on to alternative sources of care are not only for their own health but also to ensure bed availability for others.