Consultation display

Hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals

Response to the consultation

Evidence submitted in response to this Consultation

Purpose of the consultation

Purpose of the consultation

 

Good patient flow improves the quality of care for patients, but a number of factors are likely to be causing delayed transfers of care, including capacity issues within the social care system, meaning that some patients who are ready for discharge remain in hospital. This has detrimental impacts on both the individual, and the flow of patients through the hospital, contributing to pressure on A&E departments and ambulance services.

 

During the Sixth Senedd, the Health and Social Care Committee plans to explore how patient flow through hospitals can be improved.

 

The first part of this work is a short inquiry focusing on hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals.

 

The Committee considered:

 

  • the scale of the current situation with delayed transfers of care from hospital.
  • the impact of delays in hospital discharge, both on the individual and the patient flow through hospitals and service pressures.
  • the variations in hospital discharge practices throughout Wales and cross-border, and how they are meeting the care and support needs of individuals.
  • the main pressure points and barriers to discharging hospital patients with care and support needs, including social care services capacity.
  • the support, help and advice that is in place for family and unpaid carers during the process.
  •  what has worked in Wales, and other parts of the UK, in supporting hospital discharge and improved patient flow, and identifying the common features.
  • what is needed to enable people to return home at the right time, with the right care and support in place, including access to reablement services and consideration of housing needs.

 

The closing date for submissions was Friday 7 January 2022.

 

Along with your submission, you should provide the following information:

 

  • Your name and contact details as the person, or organisation, submitting the evidence.

 

  • Whether your evidence is submitted as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation.

 

  • If you are submitting evidence as an individual, confirmation that you are over 18 years old.

 

  • If you are under 13 years old, your parent or guardian’s agreement that you can participate (this can be provided via email).

 

  • Confirmation of whether you would prefer that your name is not published alongside your evidence (names of individuals under 18 years old will not be published).

 

  • Confirmation of whether you would like the committee to treat any or all of your written evidence as confidential, with reasons for the request.

 

  • If you have referred to a third party in your evidence, such as a parent, spouse or relative, confirmation that they have agreed that you can share information that may be used to identify them and that they understand that it will be published.

 

How to share your views

 

To share your views electronically, please send to SeneddHealth@senedd.wales, or by post to Health and Social Care Committee, Welsh Parliament, Cardiff, CF99 1SN.

 

 

Providing Written Evidence

 

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme the Committee requests that documents or written responses to consultations intended for publication or use in Senedd proceedings are submitted bilingually. When documents or written responses are not submitted bilingually, we will publish in the language submitted, stating that it has been received in that language only.

 

We expect other organisations to implement their own standards or schemes and to comply with their statutory obligation.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

Disclosure of information

 

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.

Contact details

Should you wish to speak to someone regarding this consultation, please use the below contact details:

Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Parliament
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1SN

Email: SeneddHealth@senedd.wales
Telephone: 0300 200 6565