This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Improvement achieved in delayed discharge cases
18/01/2005
The October 2004 figures for delayed discharge from hospital show a year on year decrease of 13.7 per cent (1908 patients) in the overall number of patients ready for discharge compared to 2210 patients in October 2003.
The number of patients delayed for more than six weeks has almost halved since the launch of the Executive's Delayed Discharge Action Plan in March 2002.
Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin today acknowledged the 'welcome improvement' from last year but also emphasised that partnerships are expected to meet the national target of a 20 per cent reduction by April 2005.
Ms Brankin, said:
"Today's figures are encouraging. They show a steady drop in the total number of people waiting in our hospitals to be discharged into an appropriate care setting.
"However, too many people are still waiting far too long in inappropriate hospital settings. We must do more to tackle this problem.
"Many NHS boards and local authority partnerships have made real progress. I want to congratulate them. But the rest must do more to find long term solutions for reducing delayed discharge in our hospitals.
"I would like to see assurances from local authorities and health boards that they will be on track to meet the targets set for April 2005."
670,000 in-patients are discharged each year from hospital in Scotland. Out of these, 1,908 patients were ready for discharge in Scotland but unable to do so for a variety of reasons, according to the October 2004 census.
There is an overall long term increase in activity relating to older people in the Health Service. Demographic trends show that the number of older people in Scotland will continue to rise over the next 20 years.
The Spending Review 2004 has continued the Executive's investment of £30 million a year to help local authorities and NHS boards tackle delayed discharge until 2007-08.
National targets have been set for April 2005 to achieve a 20 per cent reduction in all patients ready for discharge, based on a starting point of the April 2004 census.