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.
Suffolk
Concerns raised1
Failure to promptly transfer patients to an available ward bed or appropriate alternative place
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.2
Action
Publish a national delivery plan setting out steps to recover urgent and emergency care services, including expanded community services for older people with frailty.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Action
Work with Integrated Care Systems to provide streamlined pathways for older adults, including people with dementia.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 April 2023.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely bed access for elderly patients with hip fracture
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to transfer patients requiring higher-level care to appropriate critical care facilities
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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Lack of surgical bed capacity delaying transfer from the Emergency Department
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.7
Action
Provide funding to continue enhanced hospital discharge arrangements and maintain safe, timely patient discharge over winter.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Provide NHS Long Term Plan funding for primary and community care by 2023/24.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Roll out support for care home residents so more people can receive care in their communities.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Continue developing the Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Hub’s methods for managing demand and patient flow to reduce emergency department crowding.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Implement Greater Manchester Discharge to Assess guidance, including standard referral, rapid triage, testing and PPE, medication supply, and next-day follow-up processes.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Create additional community-based capacity to support discharge pathways and improve acute-hospital patient flow.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Review community-based capacity to support discharges.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Stockport health system partners are responsible for taking action to address urgent and emergency care safety concerns.
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
Lack of sufficient emergency department and inpatient bed capacity
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.11
Action
Continue rolling out Urgent Treatment Centres, NHS 111 appointment booking and Same Day Emergency Care to manage urgent and emergency demand.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Maintain Nightingale hospitals, their surge capacity and NHS use of independent-sector hospital capacity.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Introduce NHS 111 First to provide low-complexity care digitally and direct patients to appropriate settings more quickly.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Provide NHS Trusts with a share of £300 million additional capital funding to upgrade facilities before winter.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Provide £588 million to continue enhanced hospital-discharge arrangements over winter and maintain safe, timely discharge.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Fund primary and community care, including national support for care homes, through the NHS Long Term Plan’s £4.5 billion annual commitment by 2023/24.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Implement NHS 111 First across Greater Manchester before winter to direct patients to appropriate services before Emergency Department attendance.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Implement a pre-Emergency Department triage and streaming system before winter to direct patients to appropriate services.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Develop more sophisticated Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Hub methods to manage demand, patient flow and Emergency Department crowding.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Implement the Greater Manchester Discharge to Assess pathway, including a single referral form, timely triage, testing and PPE compliance, medication supplies and next-day follow-up.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Action
Create additional community-based capacity to support discharge pathways and improve acute-care patient flow.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 October 2020.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Stockport health system partners are responsible for implementing improvements addressing urgent and emergency care safety concerns.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Failure to arrange early transfer to an appropriate specialist hospital
This report raised 6 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.
North Wales (East and Central)
Concerns raised1
Failure of hospital patient flow and delayed transfer of care processes
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.15
Action
Develop enhanced multidisciplinary community resource teams to provide care at home.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Increase specialty medical and surgical in-reach into ED to support earlier assessment and discharge.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Create a Night Sister post to support patient flow and safety at Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Trial Frailty Assessment Units to support front-door assessment and admission avoidance.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Open additional surge inpatient capacity during peak demand where staffing permits safe operation.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Create a Step Down Manager post to coordinate movement of complex-care patients through discharge pathways.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Operate a rapid assessment unit at Ysbyty Maelor Wrexham to assess and admit patients from ED and primary care without undue delay.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Provide overnight district nursing in Wrexham to support safe care at home.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Develop the IV suite to provide emergency and elective IV therapy without overnight admission.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Implement the SAFER patient-flow bundle across all three acute hospital sites.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Develop patient-transfer, discharge, routine and repatriation guidance for ambulance-resource requests.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Provide dedicated hospital social-work staffing and rapid reablement support for discharge in Flintshire.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Invest in integrated generic health and social-care support staff to assist hospital discharges in Wrexham.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Establish five short-term extra-care apartments to support admission avoidance and timely discharge in Conwy.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
Action
Establish a joint Single Point of Access and step-down cluster to support hospital discharge in Denbighshire.
Stated by Betsi Cadwaladr University LHB and Conwy County Borough Council and Denbighshire County Council and Flintshire County Council and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Wrexham County Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 17 August 2017.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure of porters to collect post-procedure patients
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.
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to implement consultants' requests for patient transfer to specialist wards
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
Implement a buddy ward system to cohort specialty patients in their appropriate specialist or designated buddy ward.
Stated by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 February 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Care was not compromised because the surgical ward staff were familiar with medical gastrointestinal disorders.
Stated by Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Central and South East Kent
Concerns raised1
Delays in accepting transfer of suspected aortic dissection patients while awaiting CT imagery
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.2
Action
Clarify and reinforce to cardiothoracic registrars that aortic dissection referrals must be discussed immediately with the duty consultant, who decides transfer and any pre-transfer CT review.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 14 December 2015.
Action
Extend the open-door policy to ascending-aorta and arch dissections, enabling consultant-authorised immediate transfer with guaranteed theatre and critical-care capacity.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 14 December 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Clarified consultant escalation and guaranteed immediate transfer arrangements are considered sufficient to prevent recurrence of confusion and delay.
Stated by Guy'S and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.