Patients discharged from Staffordshire hospitals in middle of the night
Scores of patients are being discharged from hospital late at night in Staffordshire – leaving others waiting hours for their beds, it was revealed today.
One patient was even discharged from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust at midnight, while 23 were left between 11pm and midnight during 2013.
Bosses say they are trying to tackle the problem and admit it is causing problems.
On average just three patients are discharged before 11am each day and only 15 per cent of patients are out by 12.15pm – falling well short of the 30 per cent target.
Now chiefs are taking action and say they expect the figures to improve.
A new discharge lounge is being set up for patients to use after they leave wards.
And a 'transfer team' is being formed to collect patients from the wards, settle them into the discharge lounge and prepare the vacated bed space for the next patient.
A report by Maggie Oldham, chief executive at the trust which covers Cannock and Stafford hospitals, said: "Getting patients discharged earlier in the day is better not only for patients but it also helps with the supply of beds for new patients.
"This remains a key focus as the Trust not achieved its target of 30 per cent leaving by 12.15pm with only with only 15.32 per cent of patients leaving by that time.
"At present inpatients at the trust are unlikely to be discharged before lunch and an average of only three patients are discharged before 11am each day. The effect of this is that some of the sickest patients in the organisation, i.e. on assessment units and in A&E, have to wait to be placed on the appropriate speciality ward."
She adds that she wants to make ward rounds more 'structured' to improve communication between staff to ensure patients are discharged when they are ready.
Some 180 patients were discharged between 8pmand 9pm throughout 2013, while 119 left hospital from 9pm to 10pm and 141 at 10pm to 11pm.
The figures will be discussed by Staffordshire County Council's Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee on February 26, at 5pm.
The trust will be in Stafford Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to health and safety failings over the death of diabetic Gillian Astbury from Hednesford. The 66-year-old died at Stafford Hospital in April 2007 after two nurses failed to give her insulin. Nurses Ann King was struck off and Jeannette Coulson was cautioned after a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel found them guilty of misconduct in July.
The trust admitted to failing to properly manage and organise hospital services including its systems for record keeping and sharing patient information between staff members.
