Delayed discharge of dementia patients from hospitals cost the NHS an estimated £328 million and resulted in a staggering half a million wasted bed days last year, according to new analysis by the Alzheimer's Society. This chronic issue, often referred to as 'bed-blocking', significantly exacerbates long waiting times in A&E departments and hinders efforts to reduce general waiting lists by preventing the admission of new patients due to a lack of available ward space.

The analysis revealed that at least a quarter of patients aged 65 and over who remained in hospital a week after being medically cleared for discharge had dementia. This proportion rose to a third after three weeks, underscoring the disproportionate impact of discharge delays on this vulnerable group. The total number of dementia patients kept in hospital for at least a week after being deemed fit to leave reached almost 29,000 last year, accounting for 584,080 bed days. Based on an official cost of approximately £562 per hospital bed day, the financial burden is calculated at £328 million, though the true cost is likely higher as it doesn't account for the third of dementia patients who are undiagnosed or those whose overstay was less than a week.

Delayed discharge occurs when a patient is medically fit to leave but cannot return home, frequently due to 'poor planning and availability of dementia-appropriate follow-on support in health and social care services'. Beyond creating system bottlenecks, prolonged hospital stays increase the risk of complications for individuals, which is particularly detrimental for those living with dementia. Such patients are more susceptible to infections, falls, worsening cognitive function, poor mental health, malnutrition, and dehydration in the unfamiliar and often distressing hospital environment.

Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, emphasized that tackling dementia discharge delays is crucial for easing the persistent winter pressures faced by the NHS. She stated that people with dementia are being