‘Alarming’ bed-blocking data

AUDIT Scotland has revealed that bed-blocking in Dumfries and Galloway is amongst the worst in Scotland. The number of delayed discharges from hospitals across the region has increased by 27.8 per cent over the year leading to October 2025. Delayed discharge is when patients are ready to be discharged from hospital but are unable to leave. The reasons why can be varied and complex, ranging from unavailable care spaces, unsuitable living conditions at home for recovery, delayed home assessments or not having a power of attorney in place. The figures show that delayed discharge cost NHS Scotland £440m between April 2024 and April 2025. In NHS Dumfries and Galloway, there were 79 delays in October 2024, which increased to 101 in October 2025, making the region one of the worst for delayed discharge in Scotland. Commenting on the latest report, Mr Hoy said: “The alarming levels of delayed discharge across Dumfries and Galloway must be a wake-up call to the council, the health board and the Integration Joint Board (IJB) — and ultimately the SNP government in Edinburgh. “They must urgently get a grip and ensure they work collaboratively to reduce delayed discharge and ensure patients are cared for in the most appropriate settings. “Today’s figures also expose the ongoing damage caused by the SNP government’s broken promise to eradicate delayed discharge over a decade ago. “Ministers must now fully and fairly fund councils and rural health boards so they can finally fix this broken system. Unless this happens waiting times at accident and emergency will persist and waiting lists will remain stubbornly high.” A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway health board said: “Within the Health and Social Care Partnership, a great deal of work has been taking place to ensure that people who no longer have a medical need to be in hospital are able to be discharged home or to a homely setting safely, and as promptly as possible. “The NHS works closely with local authority colleagues within Social Work and Housing, and with those in other agencies, to support safe and prompt discharge. “Initiatives which have been developed to support safe and prompt discharge include Discharge Without Delay and also Discharge to Assess. “Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership is very grateful to staff for successfully implementing new initiatives and ways of working, and also the unpaid Carers who provide support to people following their discharge from hospital. “Anyone with a concern or complaint is encouraged to contact the Patient Experience Team in the first instance by phoning 01387 272 733 or by emailing dg.patientservices<\@>nhs.scot”