The NHS in central Lancashire is calling on families to help get their loved ones home from hospital as quickly as possible in the lead up to, and throughout, the traditionally busy Christmas period.
On a regular basis Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has around 80 people who no longer need hospital treatment but have not yet been able to leave for a range of reasons including waiting to be taken home.
This causes unnecessary over-crowding for everyone, so any reduction in this number will make a huge contribution to the ability of the NHS to cope with the expected pressures over the Christmas and New Year period, give all patients a better experience and help staff to provide better care.
Freeing up beds for those most in need is a vitally important part of NHS plans to prepare for the anticipated spike in Covid-19 Omicron cases, so NHS bosses are making a direct appeal to families with loved ones who no longer need hospital treatment to collect them as soon as they can.
Kevin McGee, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, has recorded a public plea to ask for support to get patients home from hospital for Christmas.
