Delayed discharges seriously harming older people's health

Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, has called on the Scottish Government to make investment in health and social care a top priority in next month’s budget, after figures published today show cases of delayed discharge from hospital remain stubbornly high.

The charity says that the failure to get to grips and tackle the problem is seriously harming older people’s health.

The latest statistics from ISD Scotland show a 5% increase in the total number of people who had their discharge from hospital delayed at the November 2019 census point (1,485) compared to November 2018 (1,413). Almost 1,000 – 985 – were over the age of 75.

Health and social care reasons accounted for 892 delays (76%).

Age Scotland’s Chief Executive Brian Sloan, said:

“We are extremely disappointed to see the latest delayed discharge figures remain stubbornly high. Of the 1,485 people being kept in hospital in November despite being medically fit to go home, nearly 1000 are over the age of 75, and for 3 in 4 this was because the appropriate social care wasn’t available.

“This highlights the tremendous strain that Scottish social care is under with stretched budgets, a lack of staff and an ageing population. There just isn’t enough availability in the community.

“Despite repeated promises from the Scottish Government to tackle delayed discharges through integrated Health and Social Care partnerships, today’s figures show that progress isn’t being made.

“We know that older people stuck in hospital beds as a result of delayed discharge are effectively ageing 30 years in just three weeks, and long hospital admissions put patients at increased risk of infection, loss of mobility and can severely impact their mental health and loneliness. It’s no surprise older people are afraid to go into hospital in case they never leave.

“We urgently need more recruitment and investment in our precious social care services and we call on ministers and MSPs to make this a priority as they negotiate next month’s Scottish budget.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

ISD Delayed Discharge Statistics for November 2019

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Health-and-Social-Community-Care/Publications/2020-01-14/2020-01-14-DelayedDischarges-Summary.pdf