Effective joint 24/7 working improves the flow of people through the system and across the interface between health and social care meaning that services are more responsive to people’s needs.
Some things that people have told us about what works and how to overcome the challenges
- social workers in hospitals on Saturdays and Sundays – a good time to meet with self-funders, carers and family, and to get people ready for discharge on Monday
- ensuring the rest of the system also offers seven-day working – including transport and pharmacy
- engaging care providers
- adopting flexible working practices
- overcoming concerns and sensibilities – for example that people won’t be discharged on Christmas day.
National guidance
NHS Improvement, Seven Day Services in the NHS
Examples of local initiatives
Surrey: seven day, eight to eight social care at Surrey's five acute hospitals
Featured pages
High impact change model examples of emerging and developing practice
The model identifies eight system changes that will have the greatest impact on reducing delayed discharge.
Better Care Fund Support Programme 2023-25
Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and free to local systems, we provide a range of support approaches to local health and social care systems to improve how they commission and deliver health and care services which is integrated, effective and sustainable.