Concern over number of specialist NHS beds

The Scottish Government must ensure there are enough NHS staffed beds available in acute specialities to meet demand, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said.

The party’s health spokesman, Alex Cole-hamilton MSP, raised concerns after official statistics showed the number of these beds available has fallen, saying people would be “worried”.

Figures published by ISD Scotland show there were on average 13,349 available staffed beds for all acute specialities in the quarter ending 31 December, 2017, a drop of 1.6 per cent on the same period the previous year.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “Since 201112 we have seen a significant 0 Shona Robison: Aim is to deliver care closer to home 10 per cent reduction in length of stay in hospital for elective admissions, which is good for patients.

“The drop in return outpatient appointments is an early signal that our aim to deliver care closer to home and use new technologies to avoid the need to go to hospital is having an impact.”