Delays in patient discharge costing HSE over €500k every night

A report has revealed that delays in discharging patients from hospital is costing the HSE more than half a million euro per night.

Figures obtained by Home and Community Care Ireland from the HSE show that over 680 patients are occupying beds, despite the fact that their acute care has ended and they are medically fit to be discharged.

The report shows almost 90% of these are elderly patients over 65 years of age where alternative arrangements have not been put in place.

"A delayed discharge is someone who is in a hospital but is clinically fit and healthy to go home - but they can't go home because there are no supports in place," explained Michael Harty, Chair of the HCCI.

"[There's no more] expensive place in our healthcare system than an acute hospital bed. Costs there are anything between €800 - €1200 a night. Which means these delayed discharges have a cost per night of well over a half a million euros."