Constituency MSP, Jackie Baillie, has called on the Scottish Government to provide more money for social care as new figures show that delayed discharge is on the rise.

Delayed discharge, the practice of patients being stuck in hospital despite being medically fit to leave, usually arises because a social care package for the patient is not in place.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s latest performance report shows that at the May 2019 census point, 211 patients were stuck in hospital due to their discharge being delayed, an increase of 9 patients compared to May 2018.

The most up to date estimate calculates the average cost of each delay is £234 per day, working out to a total of £1,475,370 for May alone.

Jackie said:

“Too many people are waiting too long to access social care leaving them stuck in hospital despite being ready to go home.

“Delayed discharge is a drain on NHS resources and is needlessly putting people at risk of hospital-acquired infections.

“In May alone this practice cost NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde more than £1million.

“It is time that the Scottish Government properly funded social care to ensure that patients can receive the support and services that they need.”