- Conference
- 2024 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 12 June 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with concern the critical situation facing hospitals, with mounting delays in patient discharges causing a domino effect on the entire healthcare system. This alarming trend impacts hospital admissions, ambulance response times, and ultimately, patient well-being. It is also an issue which particularly affects older people, who are more likely to need extra support when they are discharged from acute hospital care.
Several factors contribute to this crisis, including:
• The systematic closure of community health units: This ongoing trend leaves patients without necessary support upon discharge, leading to extended hospital stays.
• Inadequate social care services: With insufficient resources and personnel, many patients who are medically ready for release remain hospitalized due to a lack of proper care options outside the hospital setting.
The ramifications are becoming increasingly severe:
• Months-long delays in discharges: This prolonged hospitalisation negatively impacts patients’ health and recovery while putting undue strain on hospital resources.
• Worsening ambulance response times: Hospitals overflowing with delayed discharges create bottlenecks, resulting in longer wait times for emergency medical services.
To address this complex issue, a collaborative effort across various sectors is imperative:
• Increased funding: Injecting resources into the system will strengthen both the NHS and local authorities, enabling them to manage discharges more effectively.
• Integrated action plans: Implementing coordinated plans across healthcare and social care will ensure seamless transitions for patients, reducing unnecessary hospital stays.
• Governmental prioritisation: Both the UK government and devolved administrations must acknowledge this crisis as a top priority in healthcare planning and allocate resources accordingly.
Therefore, Conference calls upon the National Retired Members Committee to encourage branch retired members’ groups to actively campaign for these actions to alleviate the pressure on hospitals, improve patient outcomes, and ensure a more efficient and humane healthcare system for all. Conference also calls on NRMC to make approaches to government and devolved administrations on this issue, as well as partner organisations in the four countries of the UK.