WIREDGOV

Statistics show levels now at their lowest for 19 months

Delayed discharges in Scottish hospitals fell to their lowest levels in 19 months this June, new figures released today show.

The latest figures from ISD Scotland show that in June 2015, 45,356 bed days were occupied by delayed discharge patients – a further 3.3 per cent reduction since May and a 9.4 per cent reduction compared with June 2014.

At the July census – which provides a snapshot of delayed discharge levels on one day in the month – the number of patients delayed was 10 per cent lower than in the same month last year.

Health Secretary Shona Robison welcomed today’s figures and said they reflected the coordinated efforts between NHS and local authority partners.

Ms Robison said: “This Government has been clear that tackling delayed discharge is one of our key priorities for the health service. In January we announced a £100 million investment over three years to help local integration partnerships tackle the issue of delayed discharge.

“These figures today show significant progress has been made and I want to thank NHS and council staff for their coordinated efforts to make discharge more timely.

“Since the start of the year we have seen a steady reduction in the number of people unnecessarily delayed in hospital, and we are in a much better position than we were last year.

“However one person delayed in hospital is still one too many, and I recognise that there is still much more to do to bring rates down even further. That is why we will continue to work with partnerships to ensure they are making best use of the additional funding and continuing this downward trend – particularly as we head towards winter.”

Notes To Editors

The full statistical publication, Delayed Discharges in NHS Scotland, is available on the ISD Scotland website: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/index.asp#1454