Vulnerable patients and their families are enduring ‘harrowing ordeals' due to poor hospital discharge practices and a lack of coordination with social care services, a report has found.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman warned patients were being improperly released from hospitals and being sent home regardless of their condition.

Ombudsman Julie Mellor said: ‘Our investigations have found that some of the most vulnerable patients, including frail and older people, are enduring harrowing ordeals when they leave hospital.

‘Poor planning, coordination and communication between hospital staff and between health and social care services are failing patients, compromising their safety and dignity.

‘Health and social care leaders must work harder to uncover why 10 years of guidance to prevent unsafe discharge is not being followed, causing misery and distress for patients, families and carers.'?

Professor Gillian Leng, director of health and social care at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, said the Ombudsman's findings underlined the importance of putting into practice its social care guidance.

Charity director at Age UK, Caroline Abrahams, added: ‘This report and the dreadful cases it describes mark a new low in what looks like a continuous downward trend in the capacity of our health and care system to look after our older people adequately.?

‘Good practice is about much more than just money but it is surely no coincidence that the position is getting worse at a time when the NHS is under appalling financial pressure and the social care system is falling apart at the seams. 

‘We cannot go on like this. 

‘The Government needs to get a grip and arrest the process of decline, and if that means reopening the Spending Review and investing substantially more in the NHS and social care then that's what they should do and quickly.'