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.
The latest Delayed Discharge Census, published on 27 May showed that no patients were delayed for more than the agreed 6 week discharge planning period. It also recorded that no-one was delayed in the much needed short-stay (acute) sector.
This zero standard should now be sustained by all partnerships.
The Delayed Discharge Action Plan was launched on 5 March 2002 by Malcolm Chisholm, the then Minister for Health and Community Care.
Partnerships were invited to submit Joint Action Plans as a precondition for their respective share of the funding.
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.
The Learning and Sharing Network provides the opportunity for people to share their experience and improve performance in relation to delayed discharges.