Written question WQ95400

Hospital discharge is a key focus to help improve flow through the healthcare system and ensure people are supported to return home, or their usual place of residence as soon as they are fit to do so.

We have put in place a range of measures to support health boards and local authorities to ensure safe and timely hospital discharges, including:

• Pathways of Care Delay Reporting Framework – this was introduced in April 2023. Monthly data reported via this system helps ensure we can identify and monitor the pressing issues affecting discharge delays across Wales.

• Care Action Committee – this Ministerial-led committee brings health and social care leaders together to focus on building community capacity and improving system flow.

• 50-Day Integrated Care Winter Challenge – launched in November 2024, the challenge highlighted the 10 best practice interventions to support timely discharge and positively impact healthcare system flow, by building community capacity and improving whole system performance and resilience. On 6 December, we made available an additional £19m available to support health and social care partners in this work and to increase capacity in the primary care sector to help people stay well at or close to home.

• Hospital Discharge Guidance – Hospital discharge guidance | GOV.WALESwas published in December 2023. Discharge to Recover then Assess (D2RA) pathways guidance is in place in all Welsh hospitals to aid patient flow and appropriate discharge. This early assessment helps determine the level of support and recovery needed at discharge.