Delayed discharges in Ayrshire remain above pre-pandemic levels despite reduction

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Delayed discharges from Ayrshire 's hospitals fell by almost two per cent last year but figures still remain above pre-pandemic levels.

Figures released by Public Health Scotland revealed that the total number of delayed bed days occupied fell to 69,456 in 2023-24, a reduction of 1.7 per cent from the previous year.Also known as bed blocking, delayed discharge occurs when a patient is ready to be discharge but cannot leave hospital because the other necessary social care is not available.As a result, the patient remains in hospital preventing others from using that bed.The figures in Ayrshire remain 29 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

In 2019-20, the total number of delayed bed days occupied was 53,821.South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, has said the figures amount to a "care crisis" in Ayrshire.

The Scottish Government have said they are continuing to work on the issue and highlighted their Delayed Discharge and Hospital Occupancy Action Plan.Commenting, Mr Smyth said: “Years on from the Scottish Government promising to end the deadly and costly practice of delayed discharge, the problem in our region, like many other places across Scotland, has turned into a care crisis. “Local hospitals are full of patients who shouldn’t be there, but they can’t go home because of a lack of home carers and suitable accommodation such as sheltered housing and residential care home spaces. “The figures for Ayrshire and Arran have remained largely unchanged when compared to the previous year but are a big jump when you look at what they were pre-pandemic. “We cannot have patients left in hospital unnecessarily and the public purse drained due to poor provision of care for those leaving hospital.