The unnecessary delay in discharging older patients (those aged 65 and over) from hospital continues to be a known and long-standing issue. With the number of older people in England rapidly increasing – by 20% between 2004 and 2014, and with a projected increase of 20% over the decade to 2024 – it is now even more critical for health and social care providers to work together to minimise the length of time that such patients spend in hospital.
To read the full NAO report, click here.
Reducing patient time spent in hospital becomes more critical than ever
22 November 2016