North East hospital trusts are struggling to discharge patients due to staffing pressures in both the NHS and in care homes.
On January 23, NHS data shows there were 373 patients across five North East hospital trusts who are classed as "medically fit" but are not able to be discharged. Usually this is due to lack of community care provision.
NHS executives in South Tyneside and Sunderland, Gateshead and at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust have spoken of how staff absence and Covid-19 absence in the care sector has led to "delayed discharges" - and a knock-on impact on hospital activity more widely.
