116 Patient Long Stay in the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences Complex Spines Department: Numbers, Reasons, and Recommendations

Abstract

Abstract Patient long-stay is one of the main causes of inefficient resource management in the National Health Service. Similarly, delays in treatment and access to social care contributes to the trust’s economic burden but also causes a significant delay in care for society's most vulnerable. A single-centre evaluation of patient long stay was performed in a tertiary spinal unit in Greater Manchester. The top 50 patients who stayed the longest in an acute spinal bed between 2018 and 2019 were selected for analysis. Demographics, indication for transfer from another trust, overall length of stay, and the main reasons for such were evaluated. Of the 50 assessed, there was an average length of stay of 46.9 days and the majority were comprised of patients with metastatic spinal cord compression. 74% had delays to surgery due to poor medical optimisation pre-transfer. 41% remained as an inpatient longer than necessary due to non-medical concerns. The main reasons included awaiting placement in a rehabilitation facility, social care issues and delays in repatriation back to their referring trust for ongoing care. Delays in treatment and length of stay were found to be increased in patients who were poorly optimised pre-operatively and who required complex social and medical care post-operatively.