Number of care homes down a fifth amid ‘crisis’ in health

A DESPERATE lack of adult care homes is heaping ‘significant pressure’ on the health system, experts warn.

Scottish Care chief Dr Donald Macaskill yesterday said the rising costs of treating more people with complex needs is also fuelling a recruitment crisis.

It comes as figures show that the NHS is spending an ‘eyewatering’ £125million each year to look after people in hospital who are well enough to leave.

The Care Home Data Report shows the number of adult care homes has fallen by a fifth. There were 1,142 adult homes according to a census taken in March 2017 – down 21 per cent on 2007.

Also in March last year there were 35,989 adults in homes – down 5 per cent from a decade ago. Dr Macaskill said: ‘Fewer

‘Fewer homes for more people’

care homes are having to look after more people.

‘Many are receiving palliative and end-of-life care. The sector is under significant pressure.’

He also warned of the impact of ‘rising costs’ on a ‘crisis in workforce recruitment’.

NHS data for 2017-18 shows that one in 13 hospital beds in Scotland is occupied by a patient who is well enough to leave – a problem which costs the NHS £234 a day.

Patients kept in hospital while waiting for care arrangements to be put in place accounted for a third of the delayed discharges.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said this so-called ‘bed blocking’ is down 9 per cent from 2015-16.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Significant investment has gone into supporting older people to live well in their own homes for longer.’