Delayed discharge figures for Ayrshire and Arran are down three per cent, according to a new report from Public Health Scotland.
When comparing April 2022 with April 2023 figures, NHS Ayrshire & Arran reported a small decrease, equating to a three per cent drop.
Delayed discharge is when a patient is medically cleared to go home but cannot leave hospital, often because a social care package is not in place, or there is a lack of places in care homes or sheltered housing.
A spokesperson for NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “Although pressures remain high across the entire health and care system in Ayrshire and Arran, including within community based services, NHS Ayrshire & Arran continues to work closely as a whole system with the three HSCPs to minimise delays as much as possible to ensure that patients receive the right care in the right place.
“The focus remains on reducing the decongestion of acute hospitals, including the transfer of care from hospital to community settings when a patient no longer requires the treatment provided in our acute hospitals.”
Despite this improving picture, the figures for some health boards are still much higher than they were pre-pandemic (April 2019).
And South Scotland Labour List MSP, Colin Smyth, says no-one can afford to be complacent.
He said: “While the monthly figures for April are not showing the huge increases we have previously been seeing as compared to 2022, this is not the time to become complacent.
“When you look at the 2019 figures, it really puts things into perspective – in 2023 we have thousands more people languishing in hospital without an appropriate care package in place to get them home or into care homes or sheltered housing.
“Delayed discharge must be eradicated as soon as possible.
“We need long term investment, including tackling the woeful low level of sheltered housing locally, but the Government could start by backing Labour’s plans to pay care workers a fair wage of £12 an hour, rising to £15 which would help with the recruitment crisis.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The latest delayed discharge figures show fluctuations in a range of measures, however between March and April 2023, there has been a 2 per cent decrease in the number of bed days occupied, on average, per day. This continued downward trend, from December 2022, highlights the exceptional work that is ongoing across our health and social care system. “
“We are pleased to see improvement and we will continue to work with health boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships to support in any way we can.”
Read next:
- Man who 'sacrificed family home' in doomed business venture to turn former hotel and bar into residential property
- Teenager is in the final of Miss Great Britain
- Popular cafe closes its doors for good
- Six beaches receive national award as Scotland sizzles in warm spell
- Controversial new manufacturing facility nodded through
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
