Dementia Discharge Delays Drain NHS of £328 Million Annually
New analysis has revealed that delays in discharging dementia patients from hospital cost the National Health Service a staggering £328 million last year, while wasting over half a million bed days. The figures, published for the first time by the Alzheimer's Society, highlight a critical bottleneck in the healthcare system that is exacerbating winter pressures and lengthening waiting lists across the country.
The Scale of the Problem
The data, analysed from NHS England records, shows that nearly 29,000 dementia patients were kept in hospital for at least one week after being declared medically fit to leave during the last year. This accounted for a total of 584,080 occupied bed days. With officials estimating the cost of a hospital bed at approximately £562 per day, the financial burden on the NHS becomes alarmingly clear.
Perhaps more concerning is that the true scale is likely even greater, as the analysis does not include patients who overstayed by less than a week, nor does it account for the estimated one-third of people living with dementia who have not yet received a formal diagnosis.
Regional Variations and Patient Impact
Nationally, dementia patients represented 24 percent of all patients aged 65 and over who remained in hospital for at least a week after being deemed fit for discharge. This proportion rose significantly to 31 percent for those staying three weeks or longer. However, there were stark regional disparities, with some integrated care boards performing twice as poorly as others.
For instance, at 21 days, the figure was just 19 percent in Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, but soared to 44 percent in North Central London ICB. These variations point to inconsistent planning and availability of dementia-appropriate follow-on support across different health and social care services.
For people living with dementia, extended hospital stays beyond medical necessity pose serious risks, including increased vulnerability to infections, falls, worsening cognitive function, poor mental health, malnutrition, and dehydration. The unfamiliar and often distressing hospital environment can be particularly damaging for those with dementia.
Expert Calls for Systemic Reform
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, emphasised that tackling dementia discharge delays is fundamental to easing winter NHS pressures. "People living with dementia are being left stranded in hospital, which is neither good for them nor the NHS," she stated. Dyson highlighted that early diagnosis and access to appropriate services could help prevent hospital admissions initially, while better care and support would enable timely discharges when hospitalisation is necessary.
Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, echoed these concerns, stating that the current system is failing people with dementia. He called for social care to be recognised as a critical partner to the NHS, requiring adequate funding to deliver optimal outcomes. "The capacity in social care needs to be utilised in order to ease pressure on the NHS and deliver for patients," Green asserted.
Government Response and Future Framework
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged the issue, describing dementia as a "cruel illness" that leaves too many people stranded in hospital. The government pointed to ongoing efforts to integrate NHS and social care through Neighbourhood Health Teams, alongside a £4.6 billion funding boost for adult social care aimed at facilitating more community-based care.
Additionally, the development of the first-ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia is underway, intended to set national standards for improving care quality. Baroness Casey's Independent Commission will also consider how to build a social care system fit for the future, addressing the root causes of avoidable hospital admissions.
Professor Adam Gordon, an expert in the care of older people at Queen Mary University of London, summarised the situation starkly: "These figures paint a stark picture of delayed discharge from hospital for people living with dementia." He emphasised the real trauma these delays cause to patients and their families, and the subsequent pressure on NHS services during critical winter months.
The findings emerge as the Daily Mail and Alzheimer's Society partner in the Defeating Dementia campaign, aiming to raise awareness, increase early diagnosis, boost research, and improve care for a condition that claims 76,000 lives annually and remains the UK's biggest killer.
