A sharp rise in the incidence of delayed discharge from Scottish hospitals has underlined the failure of the Scottish Government to address the crisis in adult social care, Jackie Baillie MSP has said.

Recent statistics published by Public Health Scotland have revealed that, at the July census point, 230 patients had their discharge from hospital delayed in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, accounting for a rise of 5 per cent from June. Of the 230 patients who had their hospital discharge delayed, 199 were delayed more than three days with health and social care reasons accounting for 106 delays (46 per cent), complex needs accounting for 95 delays (41 per cent) and patient and family-related reasons for 29 delays (12 per cent).

In NHS Highland at the July census point, 85 patients had their discharge delayed from hospital, accounting for a rise of 49% from June. Of the 85 patients who had their hospital discharge delayed, 77 (90 per cent) were delayed more than three days with health and social care reasons accounting for 64 delays (75 per cent), complex needs accounting for 19 delays (22 per cent) and patient and family-related reasons for 2 delays (2 per cent).

Commenting, Jackie Baillie MSP for Dumbarton, Vale of Leven, Helensburgh & Lomond said:

“After the rush to end delayed discharge at the outset of the pandemic, the Scottish Government is still failing to properly support adult social care. Older and disabled people in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll & Bute are once again becoming stuck in hospital because of a lack of appropriate care for them in the community.

“The dignity and quality of life of older and disabled people continues to be sacrificed and tragically, many lost their lives because the government discharged them into care homes without testing for covid-19 and failed to protect them.

“I have raised delayed discharge 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.

“I welcome the Scottish Government’s moves to back a National Care Service, in the programme for government last week, following calls from me to do this 10 years ago. This service is long overdue and it is vital that the Scottish Government ensures that it addresses the problems in our Health and Social Care system.”

NOTES TO EDITOR:

 Delayed Discharges in NHS Scotland 1 September 2020:

• In July 2020, there were 28,377 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed.
• In July 2020, the average number of beds occupied per day due to delayed discharges was 915. This is an increase of 16% compared to June 2020 when the daily average was 791, but is substantially lower than the monthly average prior to COVID-19 measures being put in place.
• At the July 2020 census point, there were 961 people delayed. This is an increase of 19% compared to the June 2020 census point when 808 people were delayed.
• Of those delayed at the July 2020 census point, 734 were delayed more than three days with health and social care reasons accounting for 432 delays (59%), complex needs accounting for 263 delays (36%) and patient and family-related reasons for 39 delays (5%).