Hospital discharge timesare underfire
The Scottish Government is “failing miserably” to prevent patients being discharged promptly from NHS Lanarkshire’s hospitals, according to an MSP.
Meghan Gallacher has hit out at the SNP over an increase in delayed discharge – often due to what is referred to as “bed blocking” – claiming too many patients are enduring “unnecessary and prolonged stays in hospital”.
As well as an increase of almost a fifth in the number of patients delayed in Scotland’s hospitals, the politician also highlighted a 12 per cent month-on-month increase in the average number of beds being occupied each day.
Recent statistics from Public Health Scotland reveal that in NHS Lanarkshire the number of patients enduring prolonged stays increased by 34 per cent between December 2021 and January this year.
The MSP believes the number of patients subject to delayed discharge is having a major knock-on effect on A&E waiting times.
“The SNP promised to eradicate delayed discharge from our hospitals over seven years ago but simply haven’t done so,” Ms Gallacher said.
“In fact, the number of beds being occupied every single day is soaring.
“There are far too many patients in NHS Lanarkshire suffering unnecessary and prolonged stays in hospitals.
“SNP Ministers are failing to ensure social care services in Central Scotland are fully resourced. “The result of ever-rising numbers of beds being taken up is an increased strain on NHS Lanarkshire.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We remain in the midst of a global pandemic and Scotland’s NHS and social care services are under more pressure than at any previous stage.
“Recent months have seen extreme pressures across the whole health and social care system and this has seen more people coming through hospitals who need high levels of care and support to go home.
“We hav e a n n o u n c e d significant additional funding to address this, including £62m to enhance care at home, £48m to increase the hourly rate of pay, £40m to support interim care arrangements and £20m to enhance multi-disciplinary teams.
“We have also recently launched our ‘discharge without delay’ programme, backed by £5m, to help local health and social care partnerships.”