diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/StaffedFlowHospital.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/StaffedFlowHospital.kt
index d374c58ec6..278404bcb1 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/StaffedFlowHospital.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/StaffedFlowHospital.kt
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@ import net.corda.core.internal.TimedFlow
 import net.corda.core.internal.bufferUntilSubscribed
 import net.corda.core.messaging.DataFeed
 import net.corda.core.utilities.contextLogger
+import net.corda.core.utilities.seconds
 import net.corda.node.services.FinalityHandler
 import org.hibernate.exception.ConstraintViolationException
 import rx.subjects.PublishSubject
 import java.sql.SQLException
+import java.time.Duration
 import java.time.Instant
 import java.util.*
+import kotlin.math.pow
 
 /**
  * This hospital consults "staff" to see if they can automatically diagnose and treat flows.
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ class StaffedFlowHospital(private val flowMessaging: FlowMessaging, private val
     })
     private val secureRandom = newSecureRandom()
 
+    private val delayedDischargeTimer = Timer("FlowHospitalDelayedDischargeTimer", true)
     /**
      * The node was unable to initiate the [InitialSessionMessage] from [sender].
      */
@@ -91,39 +95,60 @@ class StaffedFlowHospital(private val flowMessaging: FlowMessaging, private val
         val time = Instant.now()
         log.info("Flow ${flowFiber.id} admitted to hospital in state $currentState")
 
-        val event = mutex.locked {
+        val (event, backOffForChronicCondition) = mutex.locked {
             val medicalHistory = flowPatients.computeIfAbsent(flowFiber.id) { FlowMedicalHistory() }
 
             val report = consultStaff(flowFiber, currentState, errors, medicalHistory)
 
-            val (outcome, event) = when (report.diagnosis) {
+            val (outcome, event, backOffForChronicCondition) = when (report.diagnosis) {
                 Diagnosis.DISCHARGE -> {
-                    log.info("Flow ${flowFiber.id} error discharged from hospital by ${report.by}")
-                    Pair(Outcome.DISCHARGE, Event.RetryFlowFromSafePoint)
+                    val backOff = calculateBackOffForChronicCondition(report, medicalHistory, currentState)
+                    log.info("Flow ${flowFiber.id} error discharged from hospital (delay ${backOff.seconds}s) by ${report.by}")
+                    Triple(Outcome.DISCHARGE, Event.RetryFlowFromSafePoint, backOff)
                 }
                 Diagnosis.OVERNIGHT_OBSERVATION -> {
                     log.info("Flow ${flowFiber.id} error kept for overnight observation by ${report.by}")
                     // We don't schedule a next event for the flow - it will automatically retry from its checkpoint on node restart
-                    Pair(Outcome.OVERNIGHT_OBSERVATION, null)
+                    Triple(Outcome.OVERNIGHT_OBSERVATION, null, 0.seconds)
                 }
                 Diagnosis.NOT_MY_SPECIALTY -> {
                     // None of the staff care for these errors so we let them propagate
                     log.info("Flow ${flowFiber.id} error allowed to propagate")
-                    Pair(Outcome.UNTREATABLE, Event.StartErrorPropagation)
+                    Triple(Outcome.UNTREATABLE, Event.StartErrorPropagation, 0.seconds)
                 }
             }
 
             val record = MedicalRecord.Flow(time, flowFiber.id, currentState.checkpoint.numberOfSuspends, errors, report.by, outcome)
             medicalHistory.records += record
             recordsPublisher.onNext(record)
-            event
+            Pair(event, backOffForChronicCondition)
         }
 
         if (event != null) {
-            flowFiber.scheduleEvent(event)
+            if (backOffForChronicCondition.isZero) {
+                flowFiber.scheduleEvent(event)
+            } else {
+                delayedDischargeTimer.schedule(object : TimerTask() {
+                    override fun run() {
+                        flowFiber.scheduleEvent(event)
+                    }
+                }, backOffForChronicCondition.toMillis())
+            }
         }
     }
 
+    private fun calculateBackOffForChronicCondition(report: ConsultationReport, medicalHistory: FlowMedicalHistory, currentState: StateMachineState): Duration {
+        return report.by.firstOrNull { it is Chronic }?.let { chronicStaff ->
+            return medicalHistory.timesDischargedForTheSameThing(chronicStaff, currentState).let {
+                if (it == 0) {
+                    0.seconds
+                } else {
+                    maxOf(10, (10 + (Math.random()) * (10 * 1.5.pow(it)) / 2).toInt()).seconds
+                }
+            }
+        } ?: 0.seconds
+    }
+
     private fun consultStaff(flowFiber: FlowFiber,
                              currentState: StateMachineState,
                              errors: List<Throwable>,
@@ -165,8 +190,12 @@ class StaffedFlowHospital(private val flowMessaging: FlowMessaging, private val
         internal val records: MutableList<MedicalRecord.Flow> = mutableListOf()
 
         fun notDischargedForTheSameThingMoreThan(max: Int, by: Staff, currentState: StateMachineState): Boolean {
+            return timesDischargedForTheSameThing(by, currentState) <= max
+        }
+
+        fun timesDischargedForTheSameThing(by: Staff, currentState: StateMachineState): Int {
             val lastAdmittanceSuspendCount = currentState.checkpoint.numberOfSuspends
-            return records.count { it.outcome == Outcome.DISCHARGE && by in it.by && it.suspendCount == lastAdmittanceSuspendCount } <= max
+            return records.count { it.outcome == Outcome.DISCHARGE && by in it.by && it.suspendCount == lastAdmittanceSuspendCount }
         }
 
         override fun toString(): String = "${this.javaClass.simpleName}(records = $records)"
@@ -214,14 +243,17 @@ class StaffedFlowHospital(private val flowMessaging: FlowMessaging, private val
         NOT_MY_SPECIALTY
     }
 
+
     interface Staff {
         fun consult(flowFiber: FlowFiber, currentState: StateMachineState, newError: Throwable, history: FlowMedicalHistory): Diagnosis
     }
 
+    interface Chronic
+
     /**
      * SQL Deadlock detection.
      */
-    object DeadlockNurse : Staff {
+    object DeadlockNurse : Staff, Chronic {
         override fun consult(flowFiber: FlowFiber, currentState: StateMachineState, newError: Throwable, history: FlowMedicalHistory): Diagnosis {
             return if (mentionsDeadlock(newError)) {
                 Diagnosis.DISCHARGE