Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Lothian Jeremy Balfour is deeply concerned about “shocking” levels of delayed discharge in NHS Lothian.
Jeremy Balfour says the latest figures – which show a record number of beds were occupied in Scotland’s hospitals by patients who were deemed fit enough to be released – are a “damning indictment” of the SNP’s mismanagement of the NHS.
Shona Robison, the health secretary at the time, promised to eradicate delayed discharge – or so-called bed-blocking – back in 2015. But, nine years on, it has reached record highs.
Compared to the same point last year, there has been a 15 per cent increase in the average number of beds occupied each day, which stood at almost 2,000 at the end of June.
In NHS Lothian there has been a 24% increase in the number of delayed bed days occupied, while 24% more patients occupied beds each day.
Jeremy Balfour says these delays have a “devastating” knock-on effect on other areas of the health service, including patients having operations cancelled and longer waits at A&E.
Jeremy Balfour urged the SNP to get a grip of this crisis and ensure that local social care providers in Lothian have the resources they need so that patients can be discharged from hospitals, and the pressure is eased on frontline medical staff.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Jeremy Balfour said: “These latest figures are shocking and a damning indictment of the SNP’s mismanagement of health and social care services in NHS Lothian during their 17 years in office.
“These are patients who are fit and healthy enough to leave hospital, and who are desperate to return their home or care home, yet find themselves stuck in hospital beds.
“The SNP promised to eradicate delayed discharge from hospitals in NHS Lothian nine years ago, but instead we see levels soaring from year to year.
“This has a devastating effect across NHS Lothian, as it leads to patients having operations cancelled at the last minute or being made to suffer longer waits at A&E.
“It is time the SNP got a grip of this delayed discharge crisis and ensured our health and social care services in The Lothians have the resources they need to ensure hospital beds are freed up.”
