Delayed Discharges

HC Deb 16 December 2003 vol 415 cc883-4W

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on delayed discharges in the Vale of York. [144482]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Information available in the Library shows that, in quarter two of 2003–04, there were 47 patients in the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) area whose transfer of care had been delayed.

Joint working has been put in place at every level in the Selby and York PCT area to address the issue of delayed transfers of care. A number of joint schemes have been put in place to prevent inappropriate admission, support early discharge and to prevent unacceptable delays.

The local authority in York has developed eight transitional care beds in the last year and Selby and York PCT is about to start a 24-hour district nursing service. By July 2004, there will be a new intermediate care facility in York providing a further 28 more appropriate placements for patients.