Over 2,300 Patients Remain in Hospitals Despite Discharge: A Deep Dive into Portugal's Social Admissions Crisis

Unprecedented Numbers in Hospital Admissions

More than 2,300 individuals continue to be hospitalized in public hospitals in Portugal even after receiving clinical discharge. This staggering figure accounts for nearly 12% of all hospital admissions, marking an unprecedented situation.

Financial Implications

This situation signifies an 8% increase over the past year, equating to an additional 178 cases that could cost the state approximately €300 million this year. The calculations are based on data from the Barometer of Social Admissions (BIS), published by the Association of Hospital Administrators.

Study Participation and Demographics

The study involved 41 public hospitals, with a total of over 21,000 beds, representing 96% of the National Health Service's capacity. Of the 2,342 individuals hospitalized in March after clinical discharge, 74% were over the age of 65.

Concentration of Admissions

The Lisbon and Tagus Valley and Northern regions accounted for 80% of these social admissions.

Key Issues Identified

Hospital administrators attribute this issue to the lack of day centers, support for informal care, and home care services. The insufficient response from the integrated continuous care network continues to be the primary cause of social admissions, impacting 38% of cases, particularly in the Center, Alentejo, and Algarve regions. Following this, the shortage of nursing homes (29%) has a more significant impact in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region.