Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director, Adults

The Assistant Director, Adults, submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide an overview of the requirements on the Local Authority to support hospital discharges and to provide an update on how Darlington is performing in terms of hospital discharges.

The submitted report stated that local authorities (LAs) played an essential role in supporting hospital discharges to ensure that people transitioned smoothly from hospital care to appropriate community or home settings. It was explained that this involved close collaboration with the NHS to prevent delayed discharges and to support people's recovery and well-being after their hospital stay. 

It was stated that LAs’ involvement in hospital discharges was part of the broader health and social care integration effort in the UK, which aimed to provide joined-up, patient-centred care across settings. The key duties of LAs in this process were summarised within the submitted report.

Members reflected on the difference between services in Darlington and other areas, noting that the services provided upon discharge in Darlington were markedly better than those experienced in other areas.

Discussion ensued on the number of patients involved in delayed transfers of care (DTOC) from acute physical health settings, with Members noting that these figures were extremely low, and any such cases were as a result of systemic failures rather than by the local authority.

Further discussion took place on the progress of the work being undertaken with Housing to identify opportunities to utilise an Extra Care Housing (ECH) property, with the ability to provide short term stays for people unable to return home due to inappropriate housing, awaiting adaptations or no fixed abode, to support a period of assessment outside of a bed-based health and/or care environment to determine long term needs and next steps. 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted, and that an update report be submitted to this Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis.