Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of delayed discharge on patients deconditioning; and what steps he is taking to ensure that patients functional skills continue to advance while waiting for discharge.

No assessment has been made. However, we know that deconditioning is a risk of continued immobility for hospital patients, especially older people, and this can happen as a result of delayed discharge.

NHS England are testing a new community recovery service at Intermediate Care Pilot sites which will support reduced de-conditioning and improve people’s independence.