Introduction

The Scottish Government is committed to significantly reducing the number of people in Scotland who are waiting to move from hospital wards to more appropriate care settings.

The Delayed Discharge Team is part of the Partnership Improvement and Outcomes Division within the Primary and Community Care Directorate. The Partnership Improvement and Outcomes Division aims to strengthen the focus on partnership working and improving the Directorate's ability to support Health and Social Care Partnerships.

Also making up the Division are the Joint Future Unit, Equipment & Adaptations Team, and the Joint Improvement Team.

Latest figures

The census of the number of delayed discharges in Scotland is published quarterly and can be found on the NHS Information Services Division website at http://www.isdscotland.org/Publications/index.asp?ht=Health-and-Social-Community-Care.

Latest Publications

The report from the last Larning and Sharing Event, held on 26 May at the Inchyra Grange Hotel, is now available to read in the publications section.

A new good practice guide to admission, transfer and discharge on NHS patients has also just been published and can also be found in the Publications secion.

Also available is current guidance on NHS Continuing Healthcare (CEL 6(2008), and the recently developed Assessment Summary for recording decisions made in relation to assessments for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

The Joint Improvement Team have also produced a number of useful publications, toolkits and case studies. More information on these can be found in the publications section and on the JIT website at www.jitscotland.org.uk.

Delayed Discharge Action Plan

The Delayed Discharge Action Plan was launched on 5 March 2002 by Malcolm Chisholm, the then Minister for Health and Community Care.

Joint Local Action Plans

Partnerships were invited to submit Joint Action Plans as a precondition for their respective share of the funding.

Good Practice Resource

The Good Practice Resource provides examples of good practice in relation to delayed discharge. It profiles innovative initiatives and mainstream activities which aim to reduce the number of people whose discharge from hospital is delayed.

Learning Network

The Learning and Sharing Network provides the opportunity for people to share their experience and improve performance in relation to delayed discharges.

Page updated: Thursday, July 14, 2011