Older patients stuck in hospital beds age 30 years in just 3 weeks, says new report

Older patients stuck in hospital beds in Scotland as a result of delayed discharge are effectively ageing 30 years in just 3 weeks, a new Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee has warned.

The Committee’s report, published today, looks ahead to the Scottish Government’s budget 2020-21 and highlights the significant extra costs of keeping patients in hospital longer than they need to be there compared to intermediate care, care homes or home care.

Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, warn that keeping older patients in hospital when they are ready to be discharged is seriously damaging to their health and more investment is needed in our social care system, so that every older person can swiftly access the care they need and are entitled to.

New evidence provided by the Scottish Government to the Committee has revealed the hugely detrimental impact of a patient staying in hospital when they are fit to leave. For some older people, 3 weeks in a hospital bed can be the equivalent of 30 years of ageing and delayed discharges also cost the NHS an average of £234 per day or £1638 per week.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said:

“It’s almost unbelievable to think that the impact of an older patient stuck in hospital when they don’t need to be there can age 30 years in just 3 weeks, but that’s the reality.

“Older people tell us they are afraid of going into hospital in case they never leave and spending time in hospital unnecessarily can put patients at greater risk of infection and mobility loss. It can also have a severe impact on their mental health, increasing the risk of loneliness and isolation.

“Despite the Scottish Government’s repeated promises to tackle delayed discharges, the figures repeatedly show that the problem is spiralling out of control. If this number of children were stuck on hospital wards then there would quite rightly be a national outrage.

“Hospital staff are working tirelessly to help patients, but there is simply not enough social care at the other end to provide the safe and effective care needed by older, vulnerable patients. The Scottish Government’s new investment of hundreds of millions of pounds into social care is very welcome, but it’s also down to Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver. We want to know when we will see the significant improvement this money should realise and where the buck stops if it does not.

“We urgently need more recruitment and intensive investment in health and social care, and much better integration between services.

“Social care in Scotland is under immense pressure as outlined in our ‘Waiting for Care’ report this year which uncovered that more than four in 10 people wait longer than the recommended guidelines for the care they desperately need. This could only get worse if Brexit results in the predicted shortages of health and social care staff.”