Thu Sep 12 17:16:00 UTC 2024: ## Nottingham Hospitals Free Up Two Wards’ Worth of Space by Speeding Up Discharges
**Nottingham, UK -** Nottingham University Hospitals Trust (NUH) has reported a significant decrease in the number of patients waiting to be discharged, freeing up the equivalent of two full wards. The number of patients waiting for more than 24 hours despite being medically fit for discharge has dropped by 100 since last year’s peak of over 200, according to figures discussed at a recent board meeting.
This improvement, which has been sustained for two months, has been attributed to collaborative efforts between the NHS and social care across the region. Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Lisa Kelly highlighted the importance of this cross-organisation collaboration, stating that it has enabled the hospitals to “really understand the data and used that to drive improvements in how we work together.”
The positive impact of this initiative is already being felt. According to Ms. Kelly, the freed-up space has allowed for an increase in planned surgeries, easing pressure on emergency pathways and hospital occupancy.
However, despite the improvements, NUH recognizes that operational pressures remain elevated. Board papers acknowledge that these “metrics persist at elevated levels and remain a root cause of several other performance issues,” hindering efficient hospital flow and limiting bed availability for acute care patients.
While progress has been made, the trust continues to face challenges in providing timely access to services. The impact of these issues is felt across both emergency and elective pathways, with patients experiencing delays in receiving the care they need.
First Piper 