The latest NHS England figures reveal that nearly one in seven hospital beds (13,767) are occupied by patients who no longer require acute care yet cannot be discharged due to an “apparent” lack of social care capacity. Care England denies this, warning that this is not a capacity issue; care homes across the country have thousands of vacant beds that could accommodate these individuals – but systemic failures in assessment, rehabilitation, and funding are leaving them trapped in hospital unnecessarily.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“This is not a new crisis. It is a predictable consequence of failing to use the social care system effectively. Older people in hospital beds, unable to be discharged, are deteriorating physically every day. Studies show that prolonged hospital stays accelerate muscle loss, reduce mobility, and increase the risk of falls, often leaving people unable to recover to their previous level of independence. The cost of this failure is enormous, both financially and in terms of human health.”
“The Government continues to talk about NHS pressures in isolation, ignoring the clear and urgent role social care plays in freeing up hospital capacity. If social care providers were properly funded and resourced, thousands of patients could be discharged safely and quickly, preventing unnecessary decline and ensuring hospital beds are used for those who truly need them.”
Care England warns that this alarming statistic reflects a fundamental failure to incorporate social care into the Government’s winter planning strategy. To finally put an end to this re-occurring problem, Care England is calling for the Government to:
- Implement a national strategy that utilises existing care home capacity to ease NHS pressures.
- Introduce a national discharge tariff of £1,500 per week to streamline hospital discharges, saving up to £587 million annually.
Professor Martin Green OBE, concluded:
“This problem is solvable, but it requires a coordinated approach where social care is recognised as a vital partner in NHS recovery, not just an afterthought. Until then, we will continue to see avoidable hospital bed shortages, unnecessary patient deterioration, and rising costs across the system.”