Sky-high delayed discharge figures damaging older people's health

Age Scotland has criticised the latest sky-high hospital delayed discharge figures, saying a “crossed-fingers” approach to reducing them just isn’t working.

The charity is calling for urgent investment in the social care sector to help the soaring numbers of older people who are stuck in hospital unnecessarily. Delays for social care reasons are costing taxpayers millions of pounds each week, while putting patients at risk of mobility loss, infection, and loneliness and isolation.

New figures show the number of patients aged over 75 whose discharge was delayed due to a lack of health and social care rose by 8 per cent between March and April to 769.

The delayed discharge census at the end of May showed there were a total of 1,451 people stuck in hospital. Of these, 1,136 people were stuck in hospital due to health and social care reasons, compared to 1,062 the month before. These account for 78 per cent of all delayed discharges.

The main reason for the delays are people waiting for social care assessments or completion of care arrangements – whether that’s assistance in their own home or a place in a care home.

Age Scotland’s recent Waiting for Care report found that an under-investment in social care meant that 43 per cent of older people with substantial or critical care needs in Scotland waited longer than the six weeks outlined in national guidelines to get the social care they needed last year.

Delayed discharges cost the NHS an average of £233 per day or £1631 per week, compared to local authority payments of £253 per week for personal and nursing care. The weekly cost of a publicly funded care home place starts at £689.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “The latest sky-high delayed discharge figures are simply unacceptable. Older people can't access the care they need at home, and crossing our fingers and hoping the numbers go down clearly isn't working.

“Not only does this come at an eye-watering cost to Scottish taxpayers, but it is having a devastating impact on older people’s mental and physical health. Hundreds of older patients are stuck in hospital every day, resulting in delayed recovery, loss of mobility, and putting them at risk of infection and loneliness and isolation. It’s not surprising that people tell us they don’t want to go to hospital for fear of never leaving.

“Our Waiting for Care report shows just how tough it is for older people to get the social care they are entitled to. The system is dangerously close to falling over, particularly with predicted reductions in staffing as a result of Brexit.

“Health and social care partnerships are still in their infancy and haven't made a significant enough impact yet. We urgently need more recruitment, more investment and better integration between services.”