Concerns have been raised following the release of figures showing that some patients in the Southern Trust have faced discharge delays of over four months because appropriate homecare provision was unavailable.
The figures, provided by the Health Minister in response to an Assembly Question from Newry and Armagh DUP MLA Gareth Wilson, show that the longest delay in discharge – due to a lack of homecare provision – reached 130 days at Craigavon Area Hospital in 2022 and 131 days at Daisy Hill Hospital in 2025.
The trend has improved for Craigavon with 66 days being the longest wait in 2025, however this has been caveated by downward trend at Daisy Hill Hospital, going from 74 days in 2022 to the 131 days last year.
Commenting on the figures, Mr Wilson, said: “In recent months I have received a number of answers from the Department of Health that demonstrate the deeply concerning pressures facing our health and social care system. These statistics are no different. No patient should be forced to remain in hospital for months after they are medically fit for discharge simply because the necessary care package cannot be put in place.
“The figures reveal that the longest delays have stretched to more than four months in some cases. That is not only frustrating for patients and their families, it also places enormous pressure on hospital capacity at a time when every available bed is badly needed.
“Delayed discharge can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing. Most people want to recover in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by family and familiar support networks, but for too many that is simply not possible because of the ongoing challenges in securing homecare provision.
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“These figures also demonstrate the knock-on effect that workforce shortages and pressures within community care services are having across the wider health system. When patients cannot leave hospital, beds remain occupied, waiting lists grow, and pressures increase throughout emergency departments and inpatient wards.
“While I welcome ongoing efforts to improve discharge arrangements and expand community-based care, these statistics show there is still considerable work to do. The Department of Health and the Southern Trust must continue to prioritise the recruitment and retention of homecare staff and ensure that vulnerable patients can access the support they need in a timely manner.
“Patients deserve dignity, independence and the right support at the right time. Addressing these delays must remain a priority if we are serious about improving outcomes for patients and easing pressures across our hospitals.”
A spokesperson for the Southern Trust said: “The Southern Trust is experiencing significant demographic pressures with the number of older people rising at a faster rate than any other Trust area in Northern Ireland. We are facing enormous and rapidly increasing cost and staffing challenges in trying to meet the significant and rising demand for Home care services, as demand continues to outstrip supply.
“Despite the pressures, Trust Home Care staff and our Independent Sector partners, are working hard to support more than 4,550 people every day, delivering around 60,000 hours of care each week.
“We are committed to modernising and strengthening home care services to better support people in their own homes and reduce pressure on hospitals and care homes. By streamlining services, we want to help more people to receive personalised support to remain in the comfort of their own home, whilst easing pressure on hospitals and care homes. We will continue to work closely with the Independent Sector to explore new service models that better align capacity and demand, maximise efficiency and address differing challenges across urban and rural areas.
“We acknowledge that waiting on home care support can be challenging for service users and families and ask for understanding as we work through these challenges. All care packages are kept under review and key workers are available to offer advice and support to families with any issues or concerns. We also appeal for families, where they can, to support with caring for their loved ones or potentially to accept alternative care while waiting for a longer-term option.”
