The phrase 'bed blockers' is often used in the UK:
Bed blocking in NHS hospitals got worse last year and was responsible for an estimated million lost hospital days, a survey revealed yesterday.
Lost bed days rose to nearly one million last year with the cost to the NHS spiralling to £200 million.
...
The Department of Health's move to introduce fines against local authorities which are unable to place hospital patients in the community or care homes has done little to halt the problem.
Latest figures revealed a catalogue of cases where patients have remained in beds for years even though they no longer need hospital-level care.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553520/A-million-days-lost-to-bed-blockers.htmlI think those who can go home are just told to go; but of course in each individual case, there's a lot to be taken into consideration - how much care from others the patient needs, how much others living at home can give, and so on. It can be misleading to pronounce on what should happen without knowing details.