More patients stuck in hospital despite being ready for discharge – Dorset misses target on long stays

Dorset hospitals are struggling to discharge patients once they are medically fit to leave.

Many of these patients no longer need hospital treatment but still require ongoing support, such as home care, rehabilitation, or nursing.

When these services are unavailable, patients must remain in the hospital, occupying beds that other patients could use.

A report from July 2024 shows that 152 patients had been in hospital for more than 21 days, well above the local target of 108.

At the same time, the number of patients with No Criteria to Reside (NCtR) – those who no longer need hospital care but remain in the hospital – rose from 200 in June to 207 in July.

While the increase may seem small, continued growth could worsen NHS waiting times, as delayed discharges directly affect patient flow.

High bed occupancy adds to the pressure, in July, an average of 94.1% of hospital beds were filled, exceeding the ICB target of 92%.

Meanwhile, the number of extra beds available to manage surges dropped from 10 to 4.3.

When hospitals are this full, patients in A&E face longer waits, planned surgeries can be delayed, and hospitals struggle to respond to sudden spikes in demand.

Some improvements have been made, in July, more patients were discharged home without needing additional support, known as P0 discharges.

However, progress remains slow for patients who require extra care after leaving the hospital, including support from community nurses, rehabilitation services, or social care.

Around 50% of complex discharges depend on services commissioned directly by the hospital, while those relying on external providers face longer delays.

Programs such as the Transfer of Care Hub, Same Day Emergency Care and Virtual Wards/Hospital at Home are helping reduce bed pressures.

However, seasonal variation and incomplete implementation mean the full benefits have not yet been realised.

Unless community support and discharge pathways improve, Dorset’s hospitals will continue to struggle to free up beds, putting further strain on patients and increasing NHS waiting times.