Delayed discharge still major issue for region

SOME patients in the region’s hospitals are waiting an average of 89.4 days to be discharged, according to the latest figures. Figures from Public Heath Scotland show that in October, a total of 3106 bed days were lost to the problem, an increase since September when 2651 days were lost. The problem reached new heights earlier this year when 107 people were stuck in the region’s hospitals as a result of delayed discharge - which is when someone is in hospital despite being deemed medically well enough to leave, often because the correct care package isn’t in place. Driven primarily by a lack of available social care packages and appropriate community accommodation, bed blocking needs to be urgently addressed, according to Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson. He said: “Ministers promised to eradicate delayed discharge a decade ago, but on their watch it’s now at a record high – with 720,000 bed days lost last year alone. “My mailbox is continually inundated with cases involving bed-blocking, including one case where a male patient had to remain in hospital in Stranraer for nearly six months because his home was no longer suitable.” While there have been intermittent signs of improvement, the issue continues to place significant pressure on the health system. Now a ‘Fast Track to Care’ policy has been drawn up by the Scottish Conservatives to tackle delayed discharge both locally and nationally. Under the new plans, Mr Carson says patients in eligible areas with care home capacity would be placed temporarily in a care home within 48 hours of being declared fit for discharge. He believes the proposal could secure up to 600 short-term care home beds by providing additional funding to Health and Social Care Partnerships. He added: “We cannot ignore this crisis any longer. Bold action is needed to reduce the pressure on our NHS and save taxpayers’ money. “What we are now putting forward is a bold, practical plan to cut delayed discharge, free up desperately needed hospital capacity and bring down waiting times.” “The human cost of delayed discharge cannot be underestimated but what continues to give me serious concerns is the cost to our amazing NHS. “The more people remaining in hospital when they are fit to be discharged, the more pressure is piled onto the NHS and all the fantastic healthcare workers who are trying to help them.”