At least at the place I work there are a couple of reasons you might get that response. We never tell people on the phone that we have a bed available. Most likely people are supposed to be discharged. However until the minute they walk out the door there is no guarantees. Things can change in a moment.

Or there are multiple intake workers and they aren't sure what the others might be working on.

Also with rare exceptions all our patients come through the emergency room. They have to be medically cleared.