01/13/2026
The BBC just highlighted a vicious cycle in the NHS where patients stay in hospital beds long after they need acute care, creating avoidable costs and delays for those who need care most.
At DocGo, we see this every day, and we know there is a better way. When patients are medically ready for discharge but can’t leave because of gaps in community care, beds stay blocked, staff are stretched, and emergency flow breaks down.
DocGo partners with health systems to drive real operational change:
• We coordinate safe, fast discharge so beds free up sooner.
• We provide tech-enabled transport and care coordination to reduce delays in handovers and transfers.
• We help hospitals improve patient flow with real-time visibility and operational support.
Faster turn-around of beds offers better patient experience, less crowding, and getting care where it is needed most.
To help break this cycle described by the BBC, the NHS should pursue innovation in discharge and post-acute care is part of the answer.
The delayed discharge challenge throws up deeper questions about the care system, co-ordination - and whether some patients are over-treated
