Delayed hospital discharge is a significant challenge across the whole of the UK. Looking at Scotland specifically, recent reports from Scottish Labour have confirmed that the cost of delayed discharge in Scottish hospitals has risen to more than £1.2 billion over the last decade. Data from Scottish health boards revealed there was an average of 650,000 bed days associated with delayed discharge in 2023. With some health boards seeing over 100% increase in bed days from 2022 – 2023.  A bed day represents more than just a duration of time in a hospital bed; it involves a complex interplay ..read more

Nearing towards the end of winter, the National Health Service (NHS) see ‘”No End in Sight for NHS Winter Pressures’ Each year, this predictable strain challenges the resilience of healthcare systems and underscores the need for innovative solutions to alleviate the burden. A recent article from NHS Confederation titled “No End in Sight for NHS Winter Pressures” sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by the NHS during the winter months. In the midst of these challenges, CHS Healthcare emerge as crucial partners in supporting the NHS and mitigating the impact of winter pressures. Offering ..read more

As winter wanes and spring blooms, pressure begins to ease, increasing hospital capacity across the system. But we cannot afford to let the grass grow for too long. To avoid another challenging winter, we must act now, putting in place the processes and measures that will help avoid delayed discharges and winter pressures. Reflecting on the challenges faced during the winter months, CHS Healthcare have provided four key steps to be taken in spring to help the system prepare for winter and enhance patient flow. Integrated Transfer of Care Hub: Fostering seamless collaboration An Integrated Tr ..read more

The UK government has recently announced an additional £600 million for social care. While the detail of this funding is to be revealed, additional investment in care services could present a significant opportunity to improve hospital discharge. But it is important that this funding is used carefully to maximise the impact it can have. A timely intervention The additional funding comes at a crucial moment. New research by national learning disability charity HFT and healthcare provider body Care England revealed that 40% of adult social care providers were in deficit in 2023. The report also ..read more

The emergence of shared Leadership roles within NHS Trusts is becoming an increasing trend aligning with the NHS’ evolving need to share best practice and make significant improvements across hospitals. Recent analysis has suggested that more than one in three trusts in England now share their chair or chief executive with others. At CHS Healthcare, we view this shift as an opportunity to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and efficiency within our NHS, and support our Trust and ICB partners in embracing changes that contribute to the betterment of healthcare delivery for all. In this blog ..read more

Predicting this winter   The number of people remaining in hospitals, despite no longer meeting the criteria to reside, is an ongoing and significant concern. With another cold snap and icy conditions across much of the UK, it is more important than ever to improve patient flow; facilitating the safe and efficient discharge of individuals from hospitals is paramount to creating space for new admissions.  Last week NHS England published its latest performance data. These figures show that across December 2023, an average of 12,610 people remained in hospital despite no longer mee ..read more

The link between discharge and admission: Historically the winter is the hardest season for the NHS. With higher incidents of seasonal illnesses and vulnerable people more likely to be hospitalised, meeting increasing demand is a significant challenge for the NHS. With more people trying to access hospital care, efficient discharge of patients who are ready to leave is vital. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge, with latest figures showing around 12,000 people a day are ready to be discharged but left waiting to leave. For many systems, hospital discharge can come to a complete standstill o ..read more

With increased demand caused by falls, COVID-19, and other seasonal illnesses, winter is the busiest time for the NHS. Against the backdrop of continuing industrial action, this year looks set to be extremely challenging for hardworking staff and patients. What remains a constant truth is that patient flow will be the battleground for the NHS once again this winter. But what is our strategy for success? The impact of delayed discharge Increased demand and lack of capacity has a significant impact on wellbeing  and experience. As hospitals fill up, it becomes harder to discharge patients ..read more

Our new report, ‘Autism and ADHD: The damaging waits for assessment’ written in collaboration with The Brain Charity and The Donaldson Trust, highlights the urgent need for change within NHS neurodiversity assessment services to support both patients and staff. In our report, we examine the long waits for assessments, and potential contributors to the declining situation and propose ten recommendations for reform. We also look at the human impact of the crisis, and share the stories of people who have been directly affected by long waits for diagnosis and treatment. One of ..read more

NHS neurodiversity services are in crisis. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been waiting for at least a year for an autism or ADHD assessment, putting their lives on hold in the meantime. We know that living with undiagnosed autism or ADHD can have serious consequences on physical and mental health, education, work, and overall quality of life. Patients are left in the dark without support, and NHS organisations are breaching targets of 13 weeks between referral and appointment for autism assessments, and 18 weeks for an ADHD assessment.  How CHS can help the NHS address waiting lis ..read more