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Families are coming to CCFTV reporting elderly loved ones preparing to be sent to a new care home from the hospital but then pass away before the transition can happen due to a' significant delay' between agencies that are securing the safe discharge to a residential care or nursing home setting. Calls are coming in from distraught families saying there was a ''slow response'' organising appropriate checks and signing off from occupational health, CPN, including speech and language therapists that caused a delay in an elderly loved one recovered in hospital being then quickly and efficiently transferred to a safe, care or nursing home environment.

Families say elderly loved ones 'give up' and often the distress 'languishing ' in hospital while not receiving the specialised dementia care needed is causing the untimely and unnecessary decline. One distressed daughter we supported told CCFTV '' My mother went into the hospital with a medical issue and was doing fine to be discharged to go into a new care home setting. The delay was too long and before this move could happen she took a turn for the worst and sadly died. I believe if things happened quickly and more effectively for her, then she would still be here.''

Sadly, reports like this are becoming all too common and CCFTV is seeing a significant increase in correspondence during the coronavirus pandemic. Families tell us they would like to see a specialised elderly care team based in hospitals that would enable a rapid and safe discharge of elderly patients when recovered and placed into a care home without unnecessary delay.