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Update on Delayed Discharge
Latest delayed discharge figures, published at the end of May show that Scottish NHS boards and local authorities have surpassed the national target of achieving an annual reduction of 20% at April 2006.
Partnerships have made excellent progress since the launch of the Delayed Discharge Action Plan in March 2002 with the total number of patients delayed over 6 weeks reduced by 73%. These figures show that local authorities and NHS boards are continuing to deliver for patients.
Some 680,000 patients are discharged each year from hospitals in Scotland. On the April 2006 census date 1046 patients were ready for discharge but were unable to do so for a variety of reasons. Of these, 498 patients were ready for discharge for more than six weeks, compared to 636 in April 2005.
Ministers want partnerships to aim higher. In full consultation with all partners, challenging targets have been set to reduce patients delayed over six weeks to zero by 2008, with no-one being delayed in short-stay beds.
The Executive will continue to work closely with partnerships to ensure fewer patients are staying in hospital longer than they need to. Executive investment of £30m will continue until 2007-08 to help achieve this.
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