Our response to NHS plans to cut long hospital stays

The NHS has today announced a plan to improve patient care by cutting long hospital stays. The plan aims to see the number of people staying longer than necessary in hospital reduced by a quarter ahead of winter, through greater use of alternatives to admission such as emergency day cases, therapy services, and support for care homes.

Responding to the announcement, Healthwatch England National Director Imelda Redmond said:

“Getting people out of hospital safely takes thought, planning and communication at all stages in the process, so it’s never too early to get ready for the extra challenges winter brings. Our work last year identified that worrying numbers of people are also being readmitted to hospital within 48 hours of leaving, so Healthwatch will continue to play its part, working with the NHS, social care teams and the public to improve people’s experience when going into hospital and in getting the right care when they leave.”