First reported 23 Sep 2013•Latest report 24 Jun 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the hospital transfer, bed-allocation or placement process that delay or prevent timely movement from an inappropriate setting to an available and clinically appropriate ward or alternative care environment.
Not included
Excludes failures concerning only the quality or suitability of a care environment when no delayed or inappropriate transfer or placement process is identified.
Excludes generic staffing, resource or bed-capacity deficiencies unless they are directly tied to delayed or failed transfer or placement in an appropriate care environment.
Excludes unrelated admission, discharge, clinical-treatment or risk-assessment failures that do not concern transfer or placement in the appropriate hospital setting.
Reports
24
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
24
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
67
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care10
NHS England4
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership3
Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB2
Care Quality Commission2
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust2
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust2
Aneurin Bevan University LHB1
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust1
Chief Executive of National Institution for Health and Care Excellence1
Chief Executive of Royal College of Midwives1
Chief Executive of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists1
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon1
Conwy County Borough Council1
Denbighshire County Council1
Ministerial department10
NHS trust10
Executive non-departmental public body6
Healthcare site3
Health-system partnership3
Local health board3
Type not available3
Health and social care service regulator2
Integrated care board2
Company limited by guarantee1
Devolved legislature1
English county council1
English metropolitan district council1
English unitary authority1
Health and care inspectorate1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Gwent
Concerns raised1
Failure to identify causes of transfer delays and take steps to avoid unnecessary delay recurring
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Kent and Medway
Concerns raised1
Failure to transfer patients from the emergency resuscitation area to suitable higher-acuity beds in a timely manner
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Lack of ward-bed capacity causing delayed transfer of elderly and complex medical patients from A&E
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.9
Action
Publish and implement the two-year Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan to improve urgent and emergency care performance.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Publish the 2025/26 Urgent and Emergency Care Plan to improve hospital flow, reduce prolonged waits and eliminate corridor care.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Work with regions to support acute trusts in eliminating emergency-department crowding through improved patient flow and length of stay.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Continue developing services that shift unplanned urgent care outside acute hospitals, support alternatives to admission and improve discharge.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Complete a national bed-occupancy reduction sprint to reduce occupancy and improve timely movement of patients to ward beds.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Invest £250 million to expand same-day and urgent care services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Improve hospital flow by reducing waits exceeding 12 hours and progressing towards eliminating corridor care.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Increase bed capacity by reducing average stays for overnight emergency admissions by at least 0.4 days.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Action
Strengthen collaboration between hospital and community services to support earlier discharge planning and safer transitions.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 December 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
NHS England will respond fully to concerns about A&E waiting times, hospital bed availability, and specialist elderly care.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Lack of psychiatric hospital beds resulting in prolonged emergency department detention
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Increase the number of funded inpatient mental health beds for the Trust’s population.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Continue improving service flow, aligning operational processes and reducing unnecessary inpatient delays and length of stay.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Continue the Mind and Body Provider Collaborative improvement programme with acute care partners, using clinical, escalation and risk-management frameworks.
Stated by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Provide daily escalation and weekly executive oversight of patients awaiting psychiatric admission through collaboration with SABP and the ICB.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Maintain regular cross-boundary system calls and agreed escalation arrangements between Epsom General Hospital and mental health providers.
Stated by NHS Southwest London Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Work with the commissioned mental health trust to improve the urgent care pathway, maximise appropriate crisis alternatives, and reduce delays in accessing inpatient beds.
Stated by NHS Southwest London Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Action
Use the assessment outputs to identify pathway gaps, support future commissioning and winter planning, and produce tailored improvement plans for mental healthcare delivery.
Stated by NHS Southwest London Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 13 August 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Providing mental health care for patients without physical health needs is outside the Trust’s commissioned remit.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Surrey and Borders Partnership provides local mental health services, while NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB commissions those services.
Stated by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS TrustRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Individual trusts and local health systems are responsible for assessing and managing local psychiatric bed capacity.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Surrey patients’ psychiatric beds are commissioned by Surrey Heartlands ICB from Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Stated by NHS Southwest London Integrated Care BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Individual trusts and local health systems are responsible for assessing and managing local psychiatric bed capacity.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Insufficient emergency-department bed capacity causing delays in patient transfer
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
CQC relies on ongoing monitoring, performance data and targeted inspections for emergency services rather than additional action on emergency-department resourcing.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The Secretary of State may be better placed to address hospital bed demand and delayed discharges because the issue involves complex competing budgetary demands.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Failure to transfer patients from emergency departments to hospital wards when clinically indicated
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Provide £1 billion to increase staffed core hospital beds by 5,000 and improve patient flow and bed capacity.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
Failure to transfer emergency department patients to hospital wards when clinically indicated
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Maintain the uplift of 5,000 staffed, permanent hospital beds delivered through the urgent and emergency care plan.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Action
Invest an additional £1 billion through the Discharge Fund to support timely and effective hospital discharge.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Action
Ensure every acute hospital has access to a care transfer hub supporting complex discharges and early planning.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 April 2024.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of suitable psychiatric hospital bed spaces in a timely way
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Increase timely access to psychiatric hospital beds and provide earlier identification, treatment and support for people in custody who need mental healthcare.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 February 2024.
Action
Address concerns and lessons identified in the HMIP review of delays transferring mentally unwell prisoners.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 14 February 2024.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Delays in transfer from the Emergency Department to a ward for elderly frail patients with hip fractures
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Improve patient flow through hospitals.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2023.
Action
Speed up hospital discharges.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 21 July 2023.
Action
Provide community alternatives to hospital admission through urgent response, virtual wards, enhanced care-home support and proactive care services.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2023.
Action
Increase intermediate-care throughput to reduce acute-bed discharge delays and accelerate admissions from emergency departments.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 21 July 2023.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Delays in allocation of hospital beds from the Emergency Department
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures of the hospital transfer, bed-allocation or placement process that delay or prevent timely movement from an inappropriate setting to an available and clinically appropriate ward or alternative care environment.
