Letter: The Problems at Our Hospitals Are Chronic

Published on: 18 Jan, 2026
Updated on: 17 Jan, 2026

From Anthony Mallard

In response to: Royal Surrey ‘Critical Incident’ Is Ongoing

I understand that, at present or in the very recent past, there were the equivalent of up to two wards of patients who are clinically fit for discharge but who cannot be released because it would not be safe for them without a care package, help with daily living or physical alterations to ensure their safety at home.

This situation has, to my knowledge, pertained since the 1990s and yet no government has adequately funded the necessary social services directly or through councils.

Hospital beds are finite and the NHS relies on a flow of patients from admission through care to discharge to work effectively and efficiently. At present and for many years the inability to discharge clinically fit individuals has hindered this, putting stress on patients, their families and the staff who care for them.

The overcrowding in A&E, the ambulances who are unable to offload patients in a timely way and those who suffer that, now, seemingly accepted practice of corridor care, all stem from this neglect of the social needs once whatever medical or surgical intervention has taken place.

For nearly 40 years this has been a known factor in winter and now is an all year pressure Isn’t it about time something was done ?

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