Nobody wants to stay in hospital longer than necessary. There’s a better way to handle patient discharge

Over the past decade, Government investment in healthcare has risen from €12.2 billion to €26.9 billion. Taxpayers, legislators and healthcare professionals alike want to see this increased investment translate into tangible improvements in patient care.

There have been some positive indicators. More than 60 per cent of consultants are now on contracts that include weekend rostering for scheduled care. Waiting times, which have chronically plagued the system, have shown improvements, with National Treatment Purchase Fund figures indicating a 7 per cent reduction in the total number of patients waiting more than 12 months to see a consultant.

At the same time, hospitals continue to face record levels of demand. The latest HSE figures show inpatient activity reached 683,000 last year – an increase of 73,000, with 72 per cent of these admissions coming through emergency care. An ageing, growing population and rising chronic disease levels is reflected in our hospitals. This demand is unlikely to ease.

Against this backdrop, patient flow is key. No one wants to stay in hospital longer than necessary. Patients often recover better at home. While investment and staffing improvements are crucial, they alone canno...
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