Secondary Care Access and Discharge Services

Access and Discharge Support Services is considered to include a wide range of services required to successfully improve the flow of patients in to and out of a variety of healthcare service settings, thus improving the efficient operation of healthcare services by reducing delays, improving the patient experience, and eliminating unnecessary delays.

To be effective such services will often need to work closely with and complement existing NHS service provision, by providing an effective link or integration between the various parts of the wider health and social care system (primary care, secondary/tertiary care, and the social care sector) in order to ensure the prompt and efficient flow of patients into and out of a healthcare setting.