Brian Whittle MSP says the Health Secretary needs to act now to deal with rising numbers of delayed discharges from hospitals.
The South Scotland MSP’s call comes as new figures revealed a “staggering” year-on-year increase in the number of delayed discharges in NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
Between September 2020 and September 2021, the number of bed days lost due to delayed discharges increased by 106%. The number also rose by 1.4% between August and September this year.
The dramatic increase in bed days lost to delayed discharge comes despite an SNP promise to eradicate the problem coming as long ago as 2015.
Brian is urging SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to guarantee NHS Ayrshire & Arran will have the support it needs to free up beds as the peak winter period approaches.
Brian Whittle MSP said “Despite promising to eliminate delayed discharges across Scotland as long ago as 2015, these latest figures show the SNP have failed spectacularly.
It’s staggering to see that the number of bed days lost in Ayrshire & Arran has more than doubled in the last year.
This is another example of the SNP failing to deliver on long made promises and patients paying the price for it. Humza Yousaf needs to get on top of these rising numbers and guarantee that Ayrshire & Arran and other health boards across Scotland will get the support they need to get delayed discharge under control.
Delayed discharge is frustrating for those patients stuck in hospital, often desperate to go home, and for those who are left waiting for treatment because there are no free beds.
As the worst of winter approaches, the SNP have to take action now or these numbers will continue to spiral and bring more misery for the NHS on their watch.”
