• Leaders of NHS England and NHS Improvement set out plans to reduce long stays in hospital
• The plans aim to free up 4,000 beds ahead of next winter
• We say NHS community services have a central role to play in bringing patient care closer to home

Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, and Ian Dalton, the chief executive of NHS Improvement have set out plans to reduce long stays in hospital.

Working with local authorities, the NHS aims to reduce the number of long staying patients by 25% and free up 4,000 beds ahead of winter.

Trusts will be supported by extended GP access and regional emergency care intensive support teams.

Responding to the announcement on cutting long hospital stays, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

“We welcome the ambition to reduce long stays in hospital set out today by the leaders of NHS Improvement and NHS England.  

“Our recent report showed that proper investment in NHS community services has the potential to help the NHS meet its ambition of bringing patient care closer to home.

Proper investment in NHS community services has the potential to help the NHS meet its ambition of bringing patient care closer to home.

Saffron Cordery    

“Both patients and providers will benefit by making sure those who are well enough to be treated outside of hospital have access to appropriate care in the community and social care services.”