Patients stuck at Stafford's hospital who don't need to be there
The number of patients stuck in Stafford’s County Hospital that no longer need to be there soared to more than double the target in recent weeks.
Action plans have now been put in place – with the aim of discharging at least seven patients a day who are medically fit to leave – hospital bosses were told at a meeting this month.
Patients deemed medically fit for discharge no longer require the level of care provided on a hospital ward, but may need assistance from other services in the community to be in place before they leave hospital, and may face delays while this support is arranged.
University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust, which runs County and Royal Stoke University Hospitals, has a target of no more than 18 medically fit for discharge patients to be at the Stafford site.
But a performance report presented to the latest UHNM board meeting revealed that in February the number of medically fit for discharge patients at County rose from an average of 33 during the first week of the month to 42 in the fourth week. The overall average for the month was 40.
At Royal Stoke University Hospital, where the medically fit for discharge patient target is 100, the average number rose from 118 in the first week of February to 135 in the fourth week. The overall average for the month was 129.
Speaking after the meeting, health campaigner Ian Syme said: “That’s not good for the patients and it’s not good for staff. County Hospital is not a nursing home where people are put to rest.”
A scheme that has helped to speed up discharge of patients who require additional support in North Staffordshire is being rolled out across the rest of the county however.
The “Discharge to Assess” model means patients who no longer need acute hospital services but may need further support are transferred to a community hospital bed or their own home for up to six weeks of additional care. Assessments to establish if they need longer term continuing health care or adult social care take place during this interim period.
A report to a Staffordshire County Council meeting in February said discharge to assess to support County Hospital was “close to maturity”.
