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.