Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for the Lothian Region, Sue Webber, says the length of time patients are waiting to be discharged in NHS Lothian should be a “source of shame” for SNP ministers.
Sue Webber MSP’s reaction comes after responses to Freedom of Information requests from the Scottish Conservatives revealed the true scale of delayed discharge – where patients who are otherwise fit and healthy enough to leave hospital cannot do so, for want of a suitable care package.
The data reveals that in NHS Lothian the longest delayed discharge stands at an “astonishing” 1600 days while the average delayed discharge stands at 49 days.
Sue Webber MSP says the figures “fly in the face” of then SNP health secretary Shona Robison’s promise in 2015 to eradicate delayed discharge from Scotland’s hospitals.
Sue Webber MSP says delayed discharge has a “devastating” knock-on effect on other areas of the health service, with patients facing longer waits at A&E or seeing operations cancelled at the last minute.
Sue Webber MSP added that the figures must be an urgent wake-up call for under-fire SNP health secretary Neil Gray to finally get resources to the frontline in NHS Lothian rather than money being wasted on bureaucracy.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP Sue Webber said: “Far too many patients are stuck for far too long in hospitals in NHS Lothian on the SNP’s watch.
“Almost a decade has passed since the SNP promised to eradicate delayed discharge from Scotland’s hospitals, but these figures fly in the face of that.
“It should be a source of shame for SNP ministers that one patient waited an astonishing 1600 days to leave hospital despite being deemed fit to go home, and that on average patients are waiting weeks, if not months, to be discharged.
“These waits not only have a huge impact on the patients involved, they also have devastating knock-on effects for other patients in NHS Lothian. Despite the best efforts of dedicated staff, more and more patients will suffer longer waits at A&E or see operations cancelled at the last minute because beds simply are not available.
“The figures must be an urgent wake-up call for SNP health secretary Neil Gray to finally get a grip of this crisis in NHS Lothian. This is exactly where investment in the NHS should be going, rather than being wasted on pointless bureaucracy and pen-pushing.”
