Hospital discharge delays leave elderly at risk of unsafe discharge in the UK

New analysis from Age UK has revealed 100,000 cases of over-65s waiting between one day to three days in A&E after a decision to admit them had been made.

More than half of these cases involved people aged 80 or older.

In 2018/19, people aged 65 plus experienced a wait of between one and three days in A&E only 1,346 times.

The prolonged waits are a visible symptom of deeper problems across the health and care system, particularly the growing number of patients who are medically ready for discharge from hospital but cannot leave because appropriate care is not available at home.

Elder has previously highlighted how care capacity shortages are driving discharge delays, with significant consequences for patients and the wider NHS.

Delayed Discharges Are Costing Millions and Worsening Hospital Pressure

Recent analysis from Elder shows that care provider capacity constraints are already costing taxpayers an estimated £23 million, as delayed discharges keep patients in hospital beds longer than necessary.

When people who are fit to leave hospital cannot access timely home or community care, beds remain occupied, preventing new admissions and adding pressure throughout the system. Research from The Health Foundation shows delayed discharges consistently reduce hospital flow and worsen emergency department congestion.

For older people, the consequences can be severe. Extended hospital stays increase the risk of deconditioning, infection and loss of independence, while uncertainty around discharge planning can leave families struggling to organise care at short notice.

What Is the Government Doing to Address the Crisis?

In response to rising A&E waits and hospital discharge delays, the Government and NHS England have introduced a series of measures aimed at improving patient flow, particularly for older people.

At the centre of this is the Discharge to Assess model, which encourages hospitals to discharge patients as soon as they are medically fit, with longer-term care needs assessed in the community rather than on hospital wards. Updated national discharge guidance sets out clearer responsibilities for hospitals, local authorities and NHS partners to work together to avoid unnecessary delays.

The Government has also committed additional funding for community and step-down care, including reablement services that support recovery at home. Funding streams such as the Better Care Fund are intended to improve coordination between health and social care services.

However, charities and health leaders continue to warn that persistent shortages in social care capacity and workforce are limiting the impact of these policies, leaving many older people stuck in hospital despite being ready to leave.

What Age UK is demanding

Age UK is calling on the government to:

• Urgently produce a funded operational plan to reduce the incidence of long A&E waits and end Corridor Care, with specific deadlines and milestones.
• Establish a robust system to collect and publish regular data on Corridor Care (as well as long A&E waits), and their impacts on the public, including by age and ethnicity.
• Appoint a Minister in the Department of Health and Social Care accountable for reducing long A&E waits and ending Corridor Care and require them to report on progress to Parliament every six months.
• Turbo-charge a peer learning programme for hospitals and local health organisations (Integrated Care Boards) to share proven solutions, tackle barriers to discharge and protect and support NHS staff.
• Work at pace to implement the 10 Year Health Plan, especially the ‘hospital to home’ shift and creation of a Neighbourhood Health Service, ensuring social care and the VCSFE are fully played in – so fewer older people need to come to A&E in the first place.

Supporting Safer, Faster Discharge From Hospital

Hospital discharge is the process of planning and arranging a patient’s safe return home or transfer to another care setting once they are medically fit to leave hospital. In the UK, discharge should only take place when a clear hospital discharge care plan is in place, and appropriate support has been arranged.

An unsafe discharge from hospital in the UK occurs when a patient is sent home without the necessary care, assessment or support. This may include being discharged without a care plan, medication support or home care arrangements, putting older people at serious risk of harm.

A hospital discharge care plan should clearly outline ongoing care needs, medication management, follow-up appointments and any home care or nursing support required to ensure a safe recovery.

By improving access to care at home and strengthening hospital-to-community pathways, experts agree that delayed discharges could be reduced, easing pressure on A&E departments and helping older people recover in safer, more dignified settings.