The number of delayed discharges from NHS Borders has increased over the past three months according to figures from ISD Scotland.
Across NHS Borders, the latest figures show that there were 40 delayed discharges in June, an 11 per cent increase from 36 in April. Compared to this time last year, the figure is now higher.
Delayed discharge costs the NHS £132 million a year, and places immense strain on other areas of the health service.
Overall, across Scotland, 42,375 days were spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. An increase of 8 per cent compared with 39,252 days in June 2017.
Commenting on the figures, Rachael Hamilton MSP said:
‘It is worrying that the picture is worsening again’
‘Delayed discharge causes misery for patients, as they are fit to leave hospital but have nowhere to go’
‘This is an issue which affects the whole of Scotland and it is time the SNP Government come up with a more robust plan to tackle the issue’
‘I have highlighted this issue time and time again, and the promises from the SNP to help NHS Borders are just not working’.
‘It may be the case that a working group to look at a collaborative approach to discharging patients maybe the answer to the problem’