ADASS RESPONDS TO LATEST NHS HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE DATA (MAY 2019)

Responding to the latest NHS hospital performance data for May 2019, published by NHS Digital today (11 July 2019), Julie Ogley, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said:

“This rise in delayed transfers of care attributable to social care is unfortunately a consequence of our persistent warnings about the vital need for investment in social care, primary and community services and the need to focus more on supporting people at home

“Investment in home care and other social care services is the best way to improve overall performance and most importantly benefit people’s lives, while hospitals are continuing to struggle due to increasing numbers of patients arriving and staying longer.

“We need the NHS Long-Term Plan to bring forward investment in GPs and district nurses, to help relieve the demand placed on hospital urgent care services from people needlessly staying in hospital for longer than necessary due to a lack of care support at home.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The latest Delayed Transfers of Care Data is available here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/delayed-transfers-of-care/delayed-transfers-of-care-data-2019-20/
• Delayed transfers of care attributable to adult social care have increased from 1,194 (Average Number of Patients Delayed per Day, previously called bed days) in April 2019 to 1,265 in May 2019, a 5.9 per cent increase.
• Delayed transfers of care attributable to adult social care have decreased from 1,324 in May 2018 to 1,265 in May 2019, or 4.5 per cent.