Norfolk and Suffolk: Hospital Discharge Delays
Real NHS England discharge data for May 2026 for the Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board in the East of England NHS region — scored on the Gera Delayed Discharge Index (higher = worse).
How bad are hospital discharge delays at Norfolk and Suffolk ICB?
As of May 2026, the Gera Delayed Discharge Index for Norfolk and Suffolk (East of England) is 69.7 / 100 (higher = worse), ranked 29 of 38 ICBs. Only 50.4% of patients who no longer met the criteria to reside were discharged each day, with an average of 570 stuck a day. NHS England valued the month's 8,762 delayed bed days at £4,924,244. Gera re-dates this monthly.
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gera Delayed Discharge Index | 69.7 / 100 | Higher = worse; severe delays |
| Discharged per day | 50.4% | Of patients no longer meeting criteria to reside |
| Stuck per day (avg) | 570 | No longer meet the criteria to reside |
| Delayed bed days (month) | 8,762 | Estimated cost £4,924,244 |
| 21+ day chronicity | 81.2% | Share of 7+ day delayed bed-days from 21+ day stays |
| vs England index | -8.2 | England 77.9 / 100 |
Other ICBs in East of England
Norfolk and Suffolk discharge delays: FAQs
- What is the Delayed Discharge Index for Norfolk and Suffolk ICB?
- For May 2026, the Gera Delayed Discharge Index for Norfolk and Suffolk (East of England) is 69.7 / 100 (higher = worse), ranked 29 of 38 Integrated Care Boards and NHS systems. Only 50.4% of patients who no longer met the criteria to reside were discharged each day, with an average of 570 stuck a day.
- How much did discharge delays cost in Norfolk and Suffolk?
- NHS England recorded 8,762 delayed bed days in Norfolk and Suffolk in May 2026. At the NHS reference unit cost of £562 per acute bed day, that is an estimated £4,924,244 of care delivered to patients who no longer needed an acute bed.
- How does Norfolk and Suffolk compare with England overall?
- England's national Gera Delayed Discharge Index is 77.9 / 100 in May 2026. Norfolk and Suffolk is at 69.7 / 100 — less severe delays than the national average. 40.7% of ready patients were discharged per day nationally, versus 50.4% at Norfolk and Suffolk.
- What counts as a delayed discharge?
- Every day NHS England records how many acute inpatients (18+) no longer meet the criteria to reside — they are clinically ready to leave — and, of those, how many are actually discharged. Those who remain are delayed discharges, usually waiting on social care, a care-home place, home adaptations or community services. This page is information, not medical advice.
Beds are scarce where discharge delays are high
The Delayed Discharge Index at Norfolk and Suffolk is 69.7 / 100, with only 50.4% of ready patients discharged each day. For a non-emergency, see a UK-registered GeraClinic doctor online, often the same day — a private service, not affiliated with the NHS. For a 999 emergency always call 999.
Contains public sector information published by Gera Systems and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (source data). Source: Gera Delayed Discharge Index — derived from the NHS England Acute Discharge Situation Report (May 2026, published 3 July 2026).