The NHS in the North East and Yorkshire has introduced several initiatives to improve patient discharge processes and enhance the flow of patients through hospitals, ensuring timely and efficient care as new figures reveal that more hospital beds were occupied last week than at any other point this winter.

New data published this week reveals that more hospital beds were occupied across the North East and Yorkshire last week (week ending 12 January) than at any other point this winter, with 16,974 beds in use, representing 94% occupancy of adult general and acute hospital beds. In the same week 1 in 7 of these beds (2,270) were taken up by patients who were fit to be discharged, highlighting the critical need for effective patient flow solutions.

Barnsley Hospital has tackled delays in discharge by working with the Royal Voluntary Service to establish a pre-booked medication delivery service. This ensures timely discharge by delivering around 240 medications each month, helping avoid missed Discharge to Assess slots and nursing home cut-offs. The service has been extended to virtual wards, end-of-life care, and haematology and has received positive feedback from patients and families.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trusts have implemented the “Flow” project, which focuses on reducing unnecessary hospital stays and admissions. This initiative leverages advanced technology and fosters collaboration to improve the transition of patients from Emergency Departments to discharge. The project has been recognised as a key element in delivering world-class patient care in the region.

Hull University Teaching Hospitals has also invested £3.8 million in the Rossmore Community Rehabilitation Centre, a facility for patients no longer needing hospital treatment but still requiring care and support. The service, run by City Health Care Partnership (CHCP), assesses patients as ready for discharge are moved to the suite, which relieves pressure on Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital. The initiative is designed to enhance patient flow and ensure sufficient bed capacity for critically ill patients.

In Harrogate, a new discharge lounge has been opened at Harrogate District Hospital as part of the NHS Urgent and Emergency Care Plan. This facility speeds up the process of discharging patients, enabling them to return home sooner while easing pressure on hospital resources. Similar lounges in other parts of the region have already demonstrated success in improving discharge processes.

On Teesside, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has made significant improvements in patient flow by adopting advanced data management systems. These systems streamline the discharge process, enabling quicker transitions for patients and freeing up bed capacity. The trust’s efforts have been widely praised for their positive impact on hospital operations and patient care.

Commenting on these efforts, Caroline Wood, Director of Operations and Delivery, said: “Our teams across the region have worked tirelessly to innovate and streamline patient discharge processes. These initiatives are not only reducing delays but also improving patient experience by ensuring people get home or to the next stage of their care more efficiently. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care while optimising resources to meet increasing demand.”

The weekly situation report publications can be found here: Statistics » Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports 2024-25.