Nearly One in 10 NHS Hospital Beds Occupied by Patients Ready to Leave

Delayed hospital discharges cost the NHS in England an estimated £2.7 billion during 2025/26, according to new analysis by The King’s Fund, highlighting the growing financial and operational impact of patients remaining in hospital after they are medically fit to leave.

The analysis found that there were almost 13,000 delayed discharges every day during the year, meaning close to one in 10 hospital beds was occupied by someone who no longer required acute hospital care. The annual cost has risen by 7.5% compared with the previous year.

Using the latest NHS estimate of £562 per occupied bed day, The King’s Fund calculated that delayed discharges are now costing around £225–£229 million each month. 

The organisation said delayed discharges are contributing to wider pressures across the health service, including overcrowded emergency departments and the increasing use of corridor care. Patients who are unable to leave hospital often face unnecessary delays returning home, while others wait longer in A&E because inpatient beds remain unavailable.

The report highlights several causes of delayed discharge, including limited capacity in adult social care and community health services, as well as administrative delays involved in arranging ongoing support and coordinating safe transfers of care.

The findings come as NHS performance data continues to show sustained pressure across urgent and emergency care services, with The King’s Fund describing delayed discharges as a key factor behind continued congestion throughout the healthcare system.

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