Can you really link delayed discharge to mortality? The evidence is far from clear Newspapers have recently reported that up to 8,000 people die every year in England because of delays in discharging patients home from hospital. But what is the evidence for this claim?
The figures come from research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In it, the authors analysed two data series: the number of patients experiencing delayed transfers of care in England each month, and the number of people who died in England each month. They found that in months with a greater number of delayed discharges there were a greater number of deaths, and this pattern seemed to be repeated over time.
The research is thought provoking, but by itself cannot be taken as implying delayed transfers are causing deaths. As the authors acknowledge in their paper, there are very significant limitations to their research, and there are other possible explanations for the patterns. The Health Foundation
The figures come from research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. In it, the authors analysed two data series: the number of patients experiencing delayed transfers of care in England each month, and the number of people who died in England each month. They found that in months with a greater number of delayed discharges there were a greater number of deaths, and this pattern seemed to be repeated over time.
The research is thought provoking, but by itself cannot be taken as implying delayed transfers are causing deaths. As the authors acknowledge in their paper, there are very significant limitations to their research, and there are other possible explanations for the patterns. The Health Foundation
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