17% of UK care homes report delayed hospital discharges due to payment disputes, with 7% experiencing 3+ week waits.
A survey of 568 UK care homes and homecare firms revealed that some patients face weeks-long waits to be released from hospital wards, with 17% of respondents reporting average wait times of one to two weeks and 7% reporting three or more weeks. The primary cause of these delays is disagreement over who will pay for a patient's social care. The Independent Care Group's chairman, Mike Padgham, called for system reform to ensure people receive the care they need, when and where they need it. The UK government has committed to reforming the adult social care sector and building a National Care Service to alleviate pressure on the NHS by expediting hospital discharges.
August 25, 2024
13 Articles