Our response to NHS England's delayed transfers of care statistics for September

NHS England has today published its latest monthly data on the delayed transfers of care. The statistics show that although the total number of delayed transfers of care have decreased, the proportion of delays caused by issues relating to social care have increased.

Commenting on statistics, Healthwatch England's Deputy Director, Neil Tester, said:

“It’s good to see that the efforts made by the NHS and local councils over the past year have significantly reduced delays in leaving hospital but it’s important to remember what people have consistently told Healthwatch – that getting home safely is just as important as getting home quickly. That’s borne out by our recent analysis of emergency readmissions, showing that more than 1 in every 5 happens within the first two days after discharge.

“With a challenging winter ahead, no-one can afford to shift the focus away from continuing to improve discharge. The increasing proportion of delays due to the availability of care and support at home or in care homes shows how vital it is for the NHS and councils to work effectively together to get people the right support in the right places at the right time.”