Statistics published this week have shed light on the dire state of the NHS under the SNP’s watch.

The statistics show that A&E waiting times last December in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde were the worst on record with only 79.9 per cent of patients seen within 4 hours – the government’s own target is for 95 per cent of patients to be seen within 4 hours.

On Delayed Discharge the latest figures from Information Services Division (ISD) show that in December 2019 across Scotland, 45,404 bed days were spent in hospital by patients who were medically fit to leave – a six per cent rise on the same month in 2018.

In West Dunbartonshire during December 2019 the figure was 488 bed days representing a – 96% rise on the same month in 2018, costing a total of £121,024.

In Argyll & Bute during December 2019 the figure was 618 bed days representing a – 18% decrease on the same month in 2018, costing at total of £153,264.

Analysis of ISD figures by Scottish Labour show that since Jeane Freeman assumed office as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, the cost to health boards of delayed discharge has reached £197.8 million, with the figure in West Dunbartonshire reaching £1,159,559 and Argyll & Bute reaching £3,257,480.

In total, since Jeane Freeman became Health Secretary patients have spent 797,491 days stuck in hospital despite being medically fit to leave, of which 6,563 patients are in West Dunbartonshire and 13,135 in Argyll & Bute alone.

 Local Dumbarton Constituency MSP Jackie Baillie said:

“Our NHS is now in a state of crisis after 13 years of mismanagement by the SNP, they have failed to listen to what overworked NHS staff, Trade Unions and patients have been telling them and this cannot be allowed to continue.

I have raised delayed discharges in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute with SNP Ministers time and time again in the Scottish Parliament, to be met with promises to end it, but it’s a promise they’ve broken over and over again.

People from West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute are being stuck in hospital for too long because the care they need isn’t in place. This is not only distressing for them and their families, it’s putting unnecessary strain on staff and our hospitals.

We can’t continue to do social care on the cheap. Only investment will help end the social care crisis and improve the standard of health care on offer in Scotland. That’s why I am calling for a fair deal for local councils in this year’s budget, to put an end to the delayed discharge crisis that has cost our NHS hundreds of millions of pounds.”

~ENDS~

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Cost of patient discharge issues in Scotland 2018/19 – 2019-20

Cost of patient discharge issues in West Dunbartonshire 2018/19 – 2019-20

Cost of patient discharge issues in Argyll & Bute 2018/19 – 2019-20

Based on data from ISD: https://beta.isdscotland.org/find-publications-and-data/health-and-social-care/delayed-discharges/delayed-discharges-in-nhsscotland-monthly/

ISD Scotland estimates the average cost for the average cost of each delay.

• As of 2017/18 this was £248 – https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2019-09-17/2019-09-17-DelayedDischarges-Annual-Report.pdf
• The estimated cost for 2014/15 was £213, the estimated cost for 2015/16 was £233 and the estimated cost for 2016/17 was £234:
  • http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2017-12-05/2017-12-05-DelayedDischarges-Annual-Report.pdf
  • http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2018-09-11/2018-09-11-DelayedDischarges-Annual-Report.pdf
• Most recent figures on delayed discharge in November 2019 available here: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2020-01-14/2020-01-14-DelayedDischarges-Summary.pdf?