On 25 October 2023 a HSE memorandum on this topic was issued by Bernard Gloster (CEO) advising each Hospital Group that “it is simply not sustainable for us to continue to care for people in acute hospital settings when their acute care has finished.”
The memo instructs hospital officials to put interim nursing home bed options in place, where necessary, for eligible patients "in anticipation of their final care plan being fulfilled". It stressed the need to work compassionately with patients and families while equally ensuring that remaining in hospital post an acute phase of care is not an appropriate arrangement to continue or a choice to be exercised.”
A Delayed Transfer of Care occurs when a patient who has been deemed clinically fit for discharge from an acute bed, but whose discharge is delayed because he or she requires some form of ongoing support or care following their discharge and the support is not immediately available. Delayed transfers of care can occur for a variety of reasons, and across all age groups. Delayed discharges can occur when patients may require rehabilitation, may have complex and behavioral needs, legal complexity issues, or are awaiting residential care or home care supports.
Discharge coordinators across all acute hospitals work tirelessly with families and patients to find the best possible solution in each case. It is very important that flow through acute hospitals, from admittance to egress from the hospital, is streamlined to support patients with the care they need as they need it.
