NAO report criticises system of discharging older patients from hospital

A new study from the National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns over the efficiency with which older patients are being discharged from NHS hospitals.

The spending watchdog's report has estimated that the gross annual cost to the NHS of treating older patients in hospital who no longer require acute clinical care is in the region of 820 million pounds.

Over the past two years, official data shows there has been an increase of 270,000 in days in acute hospitals when beds have been occupied by patients who have had their discharge delayed unnecessarily, representing a 31 percent rise.

The current figure stands at 1.15 million days, but the NAO noted that this only accounts for delays after clinicians and other professionals deem a patient to be ready for discharge, rather than all patients who are no longer in need of acute treatment.

As such, the true figure for patients aged 65 and older could be as high as 2.7 million days. This is a problem that is only likely to get worse as the average age of the population increases.

Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: "Without radical action, this problem will worsen and add further strain to the financial sustainability of the NHS and local government."