News that delayed discharge figures in Ayrshire have risen by 28 per cent has been met with dismay.
Figures from Public Health Scotland show that the equivalent of 5,326 bed days were occupied in August 2022- compared to 4,148 in August 2021.
Delayed discharge is when a patient is medically cleared to go home but cannot leave hospital, often because a social care package is not in place.
South Scotland Labour List MSP Colin Smyth said: “Delayed discharge must become a thing of the past but every month we’re seeing increases in the numbers of people stuck in hospital without a suitable care package to allow them to leave.
“Every week I hear from distraught families who say their loved ones cannot get the care they need and it’s not good enough. Delayed discharge has been a huge issue for many years but now it’s getting worse.
“This mounting crisis is damaging patients’ recovery, draining precious funds from our NHS at the worst possible time and resulting in an enormous pressure on NHS staff caring for people who shouldn’t be in hospital.
“The Scottish Government must get a grip and properly invest in social care so that people can get the support they need and the NHS can focus on treating people.”
Scotland’s Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, this week announced £600m will be used to support NHS efforts over the winter months but hinted that it will not “mitigate every single challenge.”
He said the Scottish Government would provide £8m from the current year’s budget to recruit 1,000 new staff, including 750 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas.
He added: “The coming months will be a test for our health and social care systems and indeed the incredible workforce therein.
“Recovery is a process and I have always been up front in saying that this recovery journey we are on will take years, not weeks or indeed a few months.
“I hope our winter plans set out the measures we will take to bolster the workforce, to reduce demand by treating people at home or as close to home as possible during this difficult period.”
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