Reducing delayed transfers of care

Delayed Transfers of Care (DTOC) can cause significant problems for older people, as it can detrimentally affect their health and wellbeing. However, the causes are many, diverse and complex. A new study has examined discharge processes by using "systems thinking"; an approach which views the hospitals, communities and individuals as complex networks. Existing evidence has been reviewed, and we have conducted a pilot of a 'soft systems' method to new Discharge to Assess models in one locality.

The work is being led by researchers at the University of York, with collaboration across the ARC network.

Further contact

For further details on this project, contact: yvonne.birks@york.ac.uk