Thousands of disabled children are spending longer in hospital than necessary
3 mins read
Tuesday 21 April 2026
A new report by the Children’s Commissioner has revealed that thousands of disabled children are stuck in hospital far longer than they need to be.
More than 1,000 children remained in hospital for over a year, with many unable to leave because of delays arranging care packages, a shortage of social care placements, and unsuitable or unsafe housing.
Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza described these delayed discharges as a “total systemic failure” and a breach of children’s rights. With more children living longer with complex medical needs, the number affected is rising.
The report twice quotes Contact’s own investigation which exposed how children with life‑threatening and life‑limiting conditions are being failed by continuing care – NHS‑funded support designed to enable those with the most complex health needs to come out of hospital and live safely at home.
Our By Your Side family support workers, based at Great Ormond Street, Evelina London, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, see the impact of these delays daily.
Ruth Stone, By Your Side Manager, said: “We often speak to families whose children are stuck in hospital for months at a time. It takes a huge physical and emotional toll.
“When you’re in hospital with a child with medically complex needs, you’re still doing much of the care yourself. You’re up for observations throughout the night and often only have an upright chair to sleep in.
“There’s also enormous isolation and loneliness at such a difficult time. Friends and support networks aren’t nearby, and siblings are usually at home being cared for by another parent or relative.
“And the financial impact is huge. Parents can’t work, and the cost of being in hospital quickly adds up.”
Our By Your Side team report:
- Some children are in hospital for months or even years. Some have never been home.
- Many are waiting for 24/7 care packages, including children who need long‑term mechanical ventilation.
- Others are waiting for specialist equipment or essential home adaptations.
- Some children are unable to return home because their housing is unsafe due to mould, damp, poor accessibility or severe overcrowding.
- Children suitable for home dialysis may not have their own bedroom or space for equipment.
- Children on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) often need a separate fridge, a separate bedroom and a safe space to prepare feeds.
- Specialist children’s hospitals cannot always discharge to a child’s local hospital because of bed shortages or lack of resources, leaving children far from home for long periods.
Contact believes that some children could be discharged from hospital sooner if the law and accountability around children’s Continuing Care was strengthened and brought in line with the adult system. No parent should have to fight for health care their child desperately needs to stay out of hospital. That’s why we are campaigning to demand urgent reform of children’s continuing care.
Support our campaign for a better deal for medically complex children by signing our petition.