Colin Smyth MSP
New figures have shown that the cost of delayed discharge continues to rise for NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
The figures from the Scottish Government’s Information Services Division (ISD) show that in the three months to June a total of 2,939 bed days were lost as a result of delayed discharge. The cost of these lost days to the local NHS totals £684,787.
Earlier this year local Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, revealed that delayed discharge had cost over £8 million for NHS Dumfries and Galloway since the Government had promised eradicated delayed discharge. The latest figures mean that delayed discharge has cost the health board nearly £9 million since the SNP Government broke their promise to eradicate delayed discharge.
Delayed discharge is when a patient is medically cleared to go home but cannot leave hospital, often because a social care package is not in place.
Local Labour MSP Colin Smyth said, “Again, we see a SNP Government promise broken when it comes to our local NHS. The Government’s failure over delayed discharge now means that the cost to Dumfries and Galloway has reached almost £9 million”.
“Much of the delay in discharging patients is due to social care issues and delays in care assessments. These delays have increased as a result of the cuts made by the SNP Government to the budget of Dumfries and Galloway Council”.
“Scottish Labour would end the cuts to Dumfries and Galloway Council and deliver a National Guarantee for care workers, ensuring all care workers are given appropriate training, paid the living wage, including the time and cost for travel to deliver the radical change needed to our NHS.”