Online training to speed up hospital discharges

NHS England and Health Education England have launched a new e-learning tool for health service and care staff to help them reduce hospital delays for patients.

Nearly 350,000 patients currently spend over three weeks in acute hospitals each year, many of whom are older people who are often frail. Staying too long can leave them vulnerable to infections or deconditioning. Research suggests that more than one in three 70-year-olds experience muscle ageing during a prolonged stay in hospital, rising to two thirds of those aged over 90.

Action to help tens of thousands more people avoid lengthy spells in hospital is being rolled out nationwide as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. As such, the ActNow e-learning tool will help staff to take prompt practical actions and use every opportunity to ensure our patients are cared for in the best place for them. It will cover the use of new technology, effective early discharge planning and caring for people at home. Another added benefit for staff is professional development as completing the online course can be used as evidence of continued professional development and ongoing learning.

Hilary Garratt, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “We want to ensure that all patients benefit from the shortest possible stay on a ward, getting home as soon as they are fit to leave with the support they need. Not only is that better for them, reducing the risk of infection or loss of mobility for older people in particular, but it also means that more beds are available for others who need care too, easing pressure on A&E and other parts of the system.

“This new ActNow resource will help nursing and care teams in the vital role they play throughout a patient’s journey, and are ideal to include as part of team training or for professional development plans for nurses at every level, including our non-registered colleagues.”