Extent of the impact social care crisis is having on delayed discharge in Lothian revealed
Latest figures for delayed discharge, from the Delayed Discharge NHS Scotland (Annual Release) show the extent of the challenge facing Integration Joint Boards in Lothian.
The report showed that that for 2018/19 “NHS Lothian had the highest average daily number of beds occupied by people who were delayed (340)” and that “NHS Lothian also had the highest average number of delays for health and social care reasons for this time period (296 delays).
The number of delayed discharge bed days has increased in NHS Lothian over the last three years, from 110,786 in 2016/17, 120,210 in 2017/18 and now a record 124,048 for 2018/19.
The national total for delayed discharges in 2018/19 has increased by 6 percent from the year before, back up to more than half a million 521,772 days.
The latest estimates available have the average daily cost of a delayed discharge bed as £248.
According to the latest information 35 percent of those unable to leave hospital were awaiting completion of care arrangements, 26 percent were awaiting place availability, and 16 percent were awaiting community care assessment.
Miles Briggs, the Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary said that the figures demonstrate the “SNP’s profound mismanagement of our NHS at all levels.”
Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative Lothian MSP, said: “These shocking figures highlight the SNP’s profound and ongoing mismanagement of our NHS at all levels.
“Across Edinburgh and the Lothian we have a social care crisis which is the main reason that delayed discharge is so high for NHS Lothian.
“SNP Ministers have been made very aware of this crisis, but are refusing to raise a finger to help struggling Integration Joint Boards in the region.
“For those stuck in hospital beds unnecessarily, staff and patients who need those beds, these delays are frustrating and traumatic.
“The SNP’s failure to eradicate delayed discharge is robbing NHS Lothian of over 12 percent of its bed capacity just as the number of beds in our NHS continues to fall.
“SNP Ministers have failed to resource and reform social and community care and it is patients, families and our NHS paying the price.”
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