New hospital discharge lounge aims to free up beds

A new temporary "discharge lounge" has been opened at a hospital in an attempt to free up beds.

The new facility at Hull Royal Infirmary has space for 30 patients waiting for transport to take them home.

Located on the ground floor, it has six trolleys, eight recliners,16 chairs and allows access to ambulance crews picking up patients, the hospital said.

NHS Humber Health Partnership said the unit would be used until a dedicated discharge centre is built in a new building.

Matt Overton, operations director, said: "The new Patient Discharge Lounge will enable patients to be transferred from the ward to a comfortable fit-for-purpose lounge while they await transport.

"Releasing the bed on the ward promptly to enable the next patient to move up to the ward supporting better patient flow through the HRI site."

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