Written question WQ86627

Delayed Transfers of Care monthly data reporting was suspended during the pandemic to help ease pressures on NHS staff resources. Recognising how vital this data collection is in helping to ensure efficient patient flow, and following a recommendation by the HSC committee, we have committed to reinstate a reporting framework. Our response to the committee can be accessed here: Written response by the Welsh Government to the Report of the Health and Social Care Committee follo.pdf (senedd.wales)

In the interim, delayed discharge data have been collected by the NHS Delivery Unit and published by Welsh Government alongside the monthly NHS activity and performance statistical release. These data do not measure delayed transfers of care in the same way as the previous data collection. They have not been assessed against the Code of Practice for Statistics and are published as management information and not official statistics. Broader summary data on NHS performance and activity has been updated and published on the WG website: NHS activity and performance summary: August and September 2022 | GOV.WALES

Significant work has been undertaken in collaboration with our NHS and social services partners, to develop a new system - “Pathways of Care Reporting”. The new framework is not intended to merely reinstate Delayed Transfers of Care but will implement a refreshed system that incorporates a range of improvements and new measures to form a standardised system that provides comparable data. This will ensure reliable, consistent information, that aligns with the Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care Programme; for health boards, social services and other partners to help address delays. Additionally, the new framework will reinstate data ‘validation’ in the reporting mechanism, which was a feature of the previous Delayed Transfers of Care reporting. This validation of data between health boards and local authorities will provide us with an additional layer of accuracy and confidence in the information collected.

The new framework is being implemented in a 3-phased approach. The first phase was piloted by three health boards and provided valuable testing that enabled further improvements and requirements to be made to the system. Phase two commenced recently as an all-Wales pilot to allow further testing and development and will produce a full data set and overview across Wales, allowing for final adjustments before formal implementation.

Phase 3 will implement the new system as the formal, live reporting mechanism from end of January 2023.