New Data Reveals £23 Million Lost due to Lack of Care Provider Capacity
21 October 2025 – In a recent report released by the NHS, it has been revealed that more than £23 million was lost in delayed hospital discharges during the month of September. This was due to a lack of available care homes and home care providers, which resulted in over 1,000 individuals being stuck in hospital for 14 days or more.
The estimate, which takes into account the cost of an NHS bed day at £562, paints a clear picture of the current state of social care capacity. It is the first official estimate to be released and provides the most accurate findings to date.
According to the data, delayed discharges for social care reasons accounted for more than 10% of the total £219 million lost. Pete Dowds, Founder and CEO of Elder, a home care technology company, stated that his company has already successfully moved over 1,000 people from hospital to home, with 973 of those transitions occurring within 72 hours.
With a pool of over 5,000 vetted carers, Dowds believes that Elder’s technology, which has facilitated over 100,000 matches across the UK, can immediately help alleviate the backlog of individuals waiting for live-in care in hospitals. He urges hospital trusts and Integrated Care Boards to recognize the benefits of agile, tech-enabled home care as the fastest route to freeing up critical hospital bed capacity.
Dowds also points out that the NHS has acknowledged its lag in technological advancements, yet has set a goal to become the most AI-enabled health system in the world within 10 years. He believes that Elder’s proprietary, AI-powered technology, refined over 10 years and backed by a team of industry experts, can help prevent wasted taxpayer spend and, more importantly, help individuals stuck in hospitals return home sooner.
One individual who experienced the benefits of Elder’s technology firsthand is Ian Boulden, who contacted the company to assist with getting his father, George, out of the hospital and back home in Warwickshire as soon as possible. Boulden’s father had developed an infection following hip surgery and needed home care to recover both mentally and physically. The process was simple and speedy, with initial contact on a Thursday and a carer starting on the following Sunday. Boulden’s father was very happy with the care he received during the four-week period.
Professor Martin Green OBE, CEO of Care England, has previously stated that hospital discharge delays are not a capacity issue, but rather a planning, funding, and coordination issue. He believes that care homes across England have reported admittable vacancies, yet the system is unable to effectively utilize this capacity.
To arrange an interview and/or photo opportunity with Pete Dowds or for further information, please contact Mark Acheson at +447435332204 or macheson@elder.org. Images can be downloaded and used from here.
How Elder’s Technology Helps Get People Out of Hospital Safely and Quickly
Intelligent, Fast Matching: Elder utilizes AI to rapidly match individuals in need of home care with self-employed carers based on their care needs, lifestyle factors, and even personality, hobbies, and interests. This streamlines the lengthy social care assessment process.
Immediate Capacity: With over 5,000 carers on its platform across England, Wales, and Scotland, Elder can arrange care in days instead of weeks. In many cases, care can be arranged within 24 hours.
Peace of Mind: Families can speak with carers and read reviews from others before making a selection. As a result, 9 out of 10 customers find their ideal carer on the first try.
Safety: All carers on Elder’s platform undergo a rigorous screening process, including background checks, character and skills assessments, and verifiable professional references. Only 2% of applicants are successful.
Support for Families: Elder has a dedicated clinical team, family support specialist, and customer service team available seven days a week.
About Elder: In its tenth year, Elder is an award-winning home care platform that matches older adults with self-employed carers for flexible and personalized live-in care across the UK. Founded on the belief that home is the best place to age, Elder is committed to providing solutions that enhance patient dignity and give families peace of mind. To date, Elder has helped deliver over 15 million hours of home care across the UK.
