Hospital discharge processes
Hospital discharge processes
Inquiry5
The
Health,
Social Care and Sport Committee undertook an inquiry into
the hospital discharge process. This
inquiry focused specifically on delayed transfers of care, i.e. where an
inpatient in a hospital is ready to move on to the next stage of care, but is
prevented from doing so for one or more reasons.
In
January 2021, the Committee
considered its work programme for the remainder of this Senedd and
agreed that given the limited time remaining, it continued to focus on its
inquiry into the impact of the
Covid-19 outbreak, and its management, on health and social care in Wales.
Unfortunately, this meant that the Committee was unable to continue its work
into hospital discharge processes. The
Committee agreed to highlight in its legacy report the work already undertaken,
with a strong recommendation that its successor committee recommences this
inquiry at the first available opportunity in the Sixth Senedd. The Committee
would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to contribute their views
to this inquiry.
Terms
of reference
The
terms of reference for the Committee’s inquiry were:
- How delayed transfers of care are
‘measured’ (both in terms of numbers and impact), what the national data
shows about why delayed transfers of care occur, the key pressure points across
Wales and during the year, and possible reasons for variations.
- What are the discharge processes within
the health and social care sector, how effectively they adhere to the SAFER
guidance and other good practice.
- Whether there is the infrastructure and
staff awareness to ensure the effective delivery of these processes.
- The experiences of patients, families,
carers and staff of discharge processes.
- What are the barriers and enablers to
effective communication and joint working between health, social care and
third sector bodies.
- The identification of practical
frontline solutions and initiatives that work, enabling effective,
appropriate and timely hospital discharge; how these are rolled out and
mainstreamed.
Business type: Committee Inquiry
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
Status: Complete
First published: 13/02/2020
Consultations
- Hospital discharge processes (completed)