NHS leaders call for community action to ease hospital delays

The NHS Alliance has said there are signs of progress in reducing A&E waits but warned that many patients still face hospital delays

The response follows a new National Audit Office (NAO) report that examined patient flow through hospitals and the challenges facing the health service as demand for urgent and emergency care continues to rise.

Pressure remains high across hospitals

Although A&E waiting times have improved somewhat, hospitals still face significant pressure from growing numbers of patients needing urgent and emergency treatment.

Poor patient flow can delay care at different stages, including moving patients through hospital departments and discharging those ready to leave.

The NHS Alliance said local NHS leaders and frontline staff are continuing to identify barriers that prevent patients from moving through the system efficiently.

However, it stressed that hospitals alone cannot tackle delays.

Community services could help ease pressure

Many of the measures needed to improve patient flow are based outside hospital settings, the NHS Alliance said.

Better access to GPs and primary care teams could help more people receive treatment in the community and reduce the number of patients who need to attend A&E.

Ambulance crews could also treat more patients at the scene when safe and appropriate, avoiding unnecessary journeys to hospital.

Improving coordination between the NHS and social care is another key part of the solution. Faster arrangements for people who are medically ready to leave hospital could help free up beds and allow hospitals to admit patients who need urgent treatment.

Reducing pressure before patients reach A&E

The NHS Alliance believes that improving services across the wider health and care system could help break the cycle of hospital delays.

Measures that provide earlier treatment in the community, support ambulance teams to manage patients outside hospital and speed up discharges could all contribute to better patient flow.

The NAO’s findings show the continuing scale of the challenge, while the NHS Alliance response points to the importance of looking beyond hospital doors for solutions.

With demand for urgent and emergency care continuing to increase, improving coordination between primary care, ambulance services, hospitals and social care will remain an important part of efforts to reduce waiting times and improve patients’ experience of the NHS.