Delayed hospital discharges: total pathway of care delays and total days delayed, April 2023 onwards
Contents
| Data values | Data description | Local health board | local authority of residence | Reason for delay | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | count of days delayed | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Swansea | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | October 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | October 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | Cardiff | Awaiting joint funding decision | May 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting Mental Health bed | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Wales | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | October 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Awaiting reablement community care package | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Awaiting Dementia Nursing availability | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | Cardiff | Awaiting joint funding decision | April 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Newport | Awaiting Mental Health bed | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting completion of assessment Psychiatry | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Awaiting completion of assessment Psychiatry | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Isle of Anglesey | Awaiting funding decision | December 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Awaiting Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment | February 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Newport | Awaiting Mental Health bed | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Cardiff | Awaiting joint funding decision | April 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Patient /family disputing and/or delaying to move to any stage of care / next stage of discharge | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Awaiting funding decision | July 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting joint funding decision | April 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Funding issues | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Newport | NHS Bed related issues | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Patient /family disputing and/or delaying to move to any stage of care / next stage of discharge | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Caerphilly | Court of Protection Delays - post application | February 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Step down to recover and assess | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Identifying Dementia residential home | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Caerphilly | Court of Protection Delays - post application | February 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Step down to recover and assess | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Housing Related Issues | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Merthyr Tydfil | Identifying Dementia nursinig home | July 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Funding issues | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Newport | NHS Bed related issues | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Awaiting Social worker allocation | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Neath Port Talbot | Awaiting NH availability | June 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Blaenau Gwent | Awaiting Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment | July 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Torfaen | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Monmouthshire | Identifying Dementia nursinig home | June 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Isle of Anglesey | Awaiting funding decision | December 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Housing Related Issues | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Neath Port Talbot | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | June 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Wales | Identifying Dementia residential home | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Awaiting Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment | February 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Awaiting Dementia Nursing availability | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Monmouthshire | Identifying Dementia nursinig home | June 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Identifying Dementia residential home | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Awaiting completion of assessment Psychiatry | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Torfaen | Awaiting funding decision FNC/CHC | May 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Blaenau Gwent | Awaiting Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Assessment | July 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Swansea | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | February 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting funding decision | December 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Swansea | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | February 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Home unsafe and requires attention | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Swansea | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | October 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board | Wales | NHS Bed related issues | August 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting joint funding decision | May 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Awaiting funding decision | July 2023 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Neath Port Talbot | Awaiting NH availability | June 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Neath Port Talbot | Awaiting Dementia Residential availability | June 2024 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board | Merthyr Tydfil | Identifying Dementia nursinig home | July 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Home unsafe and requires attention | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Wales | Denbighshire | Awaiting reablement community care package | August 2025 |
| 0 | count of days delayed | Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board | Denbighshire | Awaiting Social worker allocation | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Assessment Issues | May 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Assessment Issues | July 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Assessment Issues | July 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Patient family not engaging with the pathway of care discharge process | June 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting jointly funded community care package | June 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Patient family not engaging with the pathway of care discharge process | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Awaiting Social worker allocation | July 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Court of Protection Delays - post application | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting completion of assessment Psychiatry | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting jointly funded community care package | May 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting palliative care community care package (CHC FASTRACK) | August 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Patient family not engaging with the pathway of care discharge process | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Disputes between agencies | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting care home manager to visit, assess and provide outcome (residential) | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Assessment Issues | November 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Powys | Assessment Issues | March 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | No suitable abode - requires re housing | July 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Court of Protection Delays - post application | October 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Homeless | June 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | December 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Homeless | October 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting completion of assessment Pharmacy | June 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | December 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | November 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting social care provision for equipment | September 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | May 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting palliative care specialist bed | February 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Homeless | May 2023 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | No suitable abode - requires re housing | May 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Safeguarding issues impacting discharge arrangements | January 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Court of Protection Delays - post application | May 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Disputes between agencies | March 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting completion of assessment Psychiatry | January 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Patient /family disputing and/or delaying to move to any stage of care / next stage of discharge | April 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting jointly funded community care package | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Disputes between agencies | February 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Awaiting restart of previous community care package | February 2024 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Preparing for Court of Protection Pre application | April 2025 |
| 1 | count of delays | Swansea Bay University Health Board | Wales | Preparing for Court of Protection Pre application | August 2025 |
Main information
- Most recent update
- 26 September 2025
- Next update expected
- 23 October 2025
- Designation
- Official statistics
- Data provider
- NHS Delivery Unit
- Data source
- Pathways of Care Delays
Data notes
Overview
- Summary of dataset and variables
The Pathway of Care Delays data identifies patients with a discharge delay, and the reason for the delay, at a given point each month.
A delayed discharge occurs when a patient who is clinically ready for discharge cannot leave hospital because the necessary ongoing care and support or suitable accommodation for them is not yet accessible.
The data represent the number of adults occupying an NHS hospital bed, who were 'clinically optimised' ready to return home or move on to the next stage of care, that experienced a delay in their transfer of more than 48 hours beyond the point they were clinically optimised. 'Next stage of care' refers to all destinations outside of NHS hospitals. Data for local health board provider, relates to the local health board where the service was being provided and where the delay was experienced. This will include data from patients who reside from areas outside of the local health boards usual coverage. E.g. a service could be provided in the Cardiff and Vale health board, but the patient may reside in Bridgend (which is usually covered by Cwm Taf Morgannwg).
- Data collection or calculation
Data are provided by Local Health Boards and validated jointly with Local Authority partners.
The Pathway of Care Delays is a snapshot census that identifies people with a discharge delay and reason at a given point each month. Health Boards are required to extract the data from local systems on a census day in each month, and validate the delays with Local Authority partners. Subsequently, data records are entered via a web-based tool and submitted to NHS Wales.
- Statistical quality
Data are provided by Local Health Boards and validated jointly with Local Authority partners.
The Pathway of Care Delays is a snapshot census that identifies people with a discharge delay and reason at a given point each month. Health Boards are required to extract the data from local systems on a census day in each month, and validate the delays with Local Authority partners. Subsequently, data records are entered via a web-based tool and submitted to NHS Wales.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government suspended delayed transfers of care (DTOC) reporting requirements, along with many other datasets. The Welsh Government introduced the COVID-19 Discharge Requirements, which included an updated discharge process with increased focus on rehabilitation and reablement to improve patient flow and support better outcomes. From July 2020, delayed discharge data were collected as management information on a weekly basis. These data were not formally validated. Subsequently a formal replacement, Pathways of Care Delays (POCD) has been developed and tested to replace DTOC. This system has now been rolled out across all Local Health Boards & Local Authorities and the first fully validated and quality assured data are available from april 2023. Welsh Government discharge guidance (COVID-19 Discharge Requirements) sets out the default approach to hospital discharges – the Discharge to Recover then Assess (D2RA) pathways (or 'recovery pathways').
The D2RA approach is based on evidence of better outcomes for people who transfer as soon as possible to their usual residence or other suitable care setting for rehabilitation or reablement prior to assessments for longer term care. A D2RA pathway (or recovery pathway) could be in a person’s own home, in a community hospital or in an alternative step-down setting.
Published by
- Organisation
- Welsh Government
- Contact email
- stats.healthinfo@gov.wales