A new social worker job will be created in Nottingham to help get medically fit patients discharged from hospital to free up beds. It follows city hospitals struggling to admit patients at busy times because patients who are well have nowhere to go due to pressures in social care.
At one point towards the end of November, Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust, which runs the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital, had more than 170 patients ready for discharge. NUH says this figure is 'frequently' 180 to 200 patients, well above the target of 64.
Now the Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), a partnership of NHS and care organisations across the county, has secured £60,000 in funding from NHS England, and this will be used to fund a new social worker job in Nottingham City Council. It is intended this role will go some way to cutting down the number of people staying in hospital for very long periods.
