Written question WQ100464

Health boards are expected to take all reasonable actions to minimise discharge delays that are within NHS control. This includes ensuring timely senior clinical decision-making, early discharge planning, prompt completion of discharge documentation, timely provision of medicines to take home, and effective coordination of patient transport services.

Through the NHS Wales Planning Framework and winter readiness arrangements, health boards are required to maintain a continuous focus on reducing delays at every stage of the discharge process, enabling people to leave hospital safely and as soon as they are clinically ready to do so.

Rather than setting separate national targets for individual elements such as clinical decisions, discharge medicines or patient transport, health boards are held accountable for overall improvements in patient flow and reductions in delays that contribute to prolonged hospital stays. For example, for winter 2026-2027, health boards have been set an aim to safely discharge 33% of service users by midday, and reduce pathways of care delays and days delayed.

Performance is monitored through regular operational and executive-level oversight led by Welsh Government officials and / or NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, with organisations expected to identify and address local bottlenecks and implement evidence-based improvement actions throughout winter 2026-27.

Our expectation is clear: no patient should remain in hospital longer than is clinically necessary because of delays that are within NHS control. Health boards are expected to demonstrate sustained improvements in discharge performance and patient flow as part of their winter delivery plans.