England rushes to discharge hospital patients to ease bed-blocking crisis

People walk past ambulances outside St George’s University Hospital, which declared a critical incident due to bed shortages, in London, Britain, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

England's National Health Service (NHS) aims to begin discharging thousands of patients into care homes and other settings in the next few weeks in an effort to free up desperately needed beds during one of its toughest ever winters.

The state-run health service, which delivers free care for to the whole population and until recently had been a source of pride for many Britons, is under strain following years of relative underinvestment, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, and strike action by frontline staff over pay.