Further plans announced to cut delayed hospital discharges in Scotland
The Scottish Government has unveiled further action to reassess hospital patients who are clinically safe to be discharged, so that they can get the right care in the right place at the right time.
Before the end of January 2023, each health board area will identify patients who are clinically safe to be discharged without further delay and can safely move home or to another setting, such as an interim placement in a care home.
This approach is based on good practice already adopted by several health boards, the Scottish Government underlines. Patients will only be discharged if it is deemed safe, and clinical risk assessments will take into account the capacity of social care and social work and the potential impact on families or carers of patients.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “First and foremost, we know hospital is not a good place to be for people who are medically fit to leave, because it can lead to them becoming weaker or less independent. That’s why it’s so important they can move home, or to a homely setting, as soon as possible.
“We believe this will also help to alleviate pressure on our NHS by freeing up beds and improving the flow of patients through hospitals. It is also, crucially, in the best interest of the people concerned.
“If we can reduce delayed discharge there is more chance that beds will be available for people who need them. We hope that these reviews will also contribute to reducing some of the pressures our hospitals are facing.”
The announcement is the latest step in efforts to free up capacity in hospitals. It builds on the Scottish Government’s recent £8 million commitment to provide an extra 300 interim care home beds to get patients discharged quicker.
Similar hospital discharge initiatives are happening in England and Wales.
In Wales, over 500 extra step-down beds and community care packages are set to help people get care closer to home and free up hospital beds this winter.
£200 million has been committed by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in England, so that local areas can buy thousands of extra beds in care homes and other settings to help discharge more patients who are fit to leave hospital and free up hospital beds for those who need them.