Discharging older patients from hospital

This report by the National Audit Office examines how effectively the health and social care system is managing the complex issue of discharge of older patients from hospital.

In addition to resulting in worse health outcomes for patients, it is estimated that the gross annual cost to the NHS of treating older patients in hospital who no longer need to receive acute clinical care is in the region of £820 million. The paper concludes that without radical action, this problem will worsen and add further financial strain to the NHS and local government.