Will the Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government will undertake an urgent review of how hospital patients are discharged in the Welsh NHS, given that the Royal College of Physicians has called for such a review?
The challenge of managing patients in hospital with and without COVID is unprecedented. The hospital discharge guidance, published in April, with addendums and FAQs updated since then, enables discharge to the community as promptly and safely as possible. The emphasis is on transferring people home (or to alternative settings if that is not achievable) safely and with appropriate support, as quickly as possible.
With the pressures of the ongoing pandemic, there will sometimes be delays in getting patients to the right setting following discharge. We are continuing to work with health and social care partners to identify potential issues and support effective discharge and ongoing support for patients. We will consider the issues raised by the Royal College of Physicians as part of this ongoing work.