Delays in discharge of patients reaches a record high

The number of patients affected by delayed discharge in Lanarkshire hospitals has almost doubled in 12 months, reaching an all-time high.

Figures show that in NHS Lanarkshire in April, 122 patients at Hairmyres, Wishaw and Monklands were adversely affected by standard delayed discharge.

Delayed discharge occurs when a patient is ready to leave hospital but their care package has not yet been put in place. This means that beds are taken up by patients who shouldn’t be there.

In May, there were 55 people awaiting a community care assessment, 34 patients waiting to go home, one waiting to secure funding for a care home placement, 26 awaiting place availability in a care home and seven patients classed as‘other’. This includes legal/financial, disagreements and other patient/ carer/family related reasons.

Central Scotland Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell recently questioned the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Shona Robison, on the number of patients affected by‘delayed discharge’ and is calling for interim units to help tackle the problem.

She said:“whilst some of this increase is certainly due to the closure of Lockhart Hospital in Lanark, it’s still an issue which the Government has failed to get to grips with generally.

“It needs to deal with the situation and to ensure that this increase in delayed discharge does not continue. Here one possible way forward would be for Lanarkshire to establish interim units, which allow patients to build confidence before returning home after a stint in hospital.

“Other health boards in a similar situation have established these to great effect.”

Robison said:“the member is right to highlight the importance of the matter. Discussions are going on with the partnerships that cover North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire, and she might be aware that a particular issue in South Lanarkshire lies behind some of the delays. I assure her that officials are engaging closely with the partnership in that regard, to ensure that it takes the action that we know works and that has worked in other partnerships to reduce delayed discharge.

“The member will be aware that the Scottish Government is making significant investment in both partnership areas to tackle delayed discharge. I will be happy to keep the member closely informed of South Lanarkshire’s plans to tackle what is an important issue.”

Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership responded in a joint statement saying: “Delayed discharges are kept under constant review and a number of actions have been and are being taken to keep up with the increasing demand from both hospital discharges and a growing number of people in the community with additional care needs.

“Such initiatives include the roll out of the Hospital At Home service and the creation of intermediate care beds within a care home.

“Within North Lanarkshire there are two social work intermediate care units in place, with a third due to open in autumn 2016.”