The number of people in England who have no home to go to after being discharged from hospital has jumped by 53% in five years, the Tories have claimed.
According to research by the party, 6,204 people were recorded as having no fixed abode on discharge from hospital care in 2007, up from 4,048 in 2003.
And the number of patients admitted by hospitals with no fixed abode increased by 42% from 4,984 in 2003 to 7,106 last year.
The findings were obtained by the Tories using the Freedom of Information Act and based on responses to requests from 103 of the 171 NHS Trusts in England.
In addition, 35% of the 171 trusts recorded that in 2007, 1302 patients with no fixed abode were discharged without the support of a relative or carer. This was up from 830 in 2003.
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said the figures highlighted a "dramatic" increase in the numbers of people leaving hospital into homelessness.
They revealed the ease by which homeless people were released from hospital only for their condition to deteriorate, needing further NHS care.
The data is contained in a report by Mr Shapps - Discharged to no fixed abode - which demands the NHS, local authorities and homeless organisations recognise the problem of "hospital homelessness". It calls for best practice to be encouraged across the NHS and says intervention prior to discharge will provide social and financial savings.
The report says: "People suffering with serious medical conditions are being discharged to homes they don't have. It will then cost the NHS far more when these people return to hospital with exacerbated chronic conditions."
The report singled out Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London as having an "exceptional team". Its work through the Passage Day Centre had "saved the NHS large amounts of money" by helping homeless patients with accommodation and benefits.
