England's NHS hospitals are earning higher marks from patients — but the exit experience still needs work. The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) 2025 inpatient survey, covering more than 58,000 patients across 130 NHS trusts, found satisfaction rising for a second consecutive year. More patients reported trusting their nurses, feeling included in care conversations, and seeing adequate staffing levels. But when it comes to going home, the picture is far less rosy.

Discharge planning continues to be flagged as a systemic failure. One in five patients said staff never discussed their post-discharge care needs, and 26% of those who needed it said family or carers weren't given the information required to support them at home. The CQC's chief inspector of hospitals called the lack of progress "disappointing."

The financial toll is mounting too. A King's Fund report found delayed discharges cost the NHS £2.7 billion in 2025–2026 — up 7.5% year-on-year — with nearly 13,000 patients stuck in hospital beds daily despite being medically fit to leave.

By the Numbers:

• 79% of patients always trusted their nurses (up from 78% in 2024)
• 22% said staff never discussed post-discharge care needs
• 24% lacked support to recover at home after discharge
• ~13,000 delayed discharges per day; 1 in 10 hospital beds occupied by discharge-ready patients
• £2.7B annual cost of delayed discharges to the NHS, up 7.5%

Why it matters: Prolonged hospital stays aren't just costly — they're clinically risky, raising the odds of deconditioning, delirium, falls, and infection. Fixing discharge isn't just a patient experience issue; it's a capacity and safety imperative for the entire NHS system.