“Not Good Enough” – Murrison on Discharges

South West Wiltshire’s MP has said the number of people using hospital beds while waiting to be discharged to more appropriate care is not good enough. Dr Andrew Murrison pressed Health Minister Edward Argar on what more can be done to speed up the discharge of people into care outside of hospitals when their treatment is at an end.

Minister Argar said: “Discharge of people from hospital safely, either into a care home setting or back to their own home with support, is vital not only for their own health outcomes but for the flow of patients through our acute hospitals to enable A and Es and other parts of the system to function effectively. Through the national discharge taskforce and through the work we have done throughout the pandemic, we are bringing together acute hospitals and local authorities, and we have made huge strides together within localities in improving this and learning lessons.”