Hospital Deaths While Awaiting Discharge 'Extremely Worrying'

MLAs have hit out after new figures revealed that over 200 people have died in hospital while waiting to be discharged.

The report by Marie Curie shows that delayed discharges meant patients were dying in care despite being declared ready to go home.

SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan said the issue is "extremely worrying" and causes unfair and avoidable stress for the patients and families involved.

The Foyle MLA commented: "Not only do delayed discharges cause bed blockages in an already struggling health service, they stop elderly patients and the terminally ill from being cared for at home or in the community.

"It is wrong that terminally ill patients, and their families, are having to spend the remaining time they have with their loved ones on a hospital ward unnecessarily."

Alliance MLA for south Belfast Paula Bradshaw added that keeping these patients in hospital is "in absolutely nobody's interests". She added: "It is distressing when people who were hoping to live their final days at home are forced to stay in hospital by a system which has not been transformed quickly enough.

"Delayed discharges are likely only to become more common if health and social care services remain unreformed, as people are living longer with more complex needs."

Both parties have demanded urgent action on the issue, with Mr Durkan calling for collaboration between the Departments of Health and Finance to address shortages in adult social care services. Ms Bradshaw also issued a call for the restoration of power-sharing and end of Northern Ireland's political paralysis to help those in need.



(JG/CM)