Highland patients spent 352,000 excess days in hospital due to delayed discharge sparking serious concerns ahead of winter
Since 2016 NHS Highland patients who have fallen victim to delayed discharge have spent an extra 352,728 additional days in hospital when they should have been released – that is the equivalent of just over 966 years.
That is according to research by MSP Edward Mountain who warned delays are continuing to mount and if 2024/25 continues at the current rate then “we will have lost nearly 75,000 bed days by the year’s end.”
Delayed discharge – sometimes referred to as bed blocking though some argue this unfairly places the blame on the patient – is when someone is medically fit to leave hospital but cannot because of other reasons.
Raigmore hospital has in the past declared an emergency and discouraged non-urgent cases to attend the hospital due to the sheer demand on beds.
It has also been flagged up that some internal failings exacerbated problems at NHS Highland when it comes to delayed discharge.
What worries Mr Mountain who revealed the delays in his regular column is that the Highlands – despites its proportionally smaller population is experiencing a disproportionately high number of delayed discharges.
Data released by Public Health Scotland shows the scale of the crisis facing both the NHS and the care sector and a problem that is getting worse – in July 2016 additional bed days stood at 3812, in August this year it was 6646.
The figures for the Highlands become even more stark when looked at by local authority: the Highland Council area experienced the highest delayed discharge rate in Scotland.
The Highland Council area with a population of 235,540 had a total of 6646 delayed discharges in August, Glasgow City Council 7042 yet it has a population of more than double that at 622,820.
Mr Mountain said: “Analysis reveals that 6,646 bed days were occupied as a result of so-called “bed blocking”, the worst on record. Since 2017/18, an incredible 352,000 bed days have been taken up in this local authority area.
“In simple terms, every one of those cases represents a bed which could have been used for the many people in the Highlands who routinely fail to receive the care they deserve.
“Delayed discharge – where someone is physically fit to be discharged from hospital but has nowhere to go – is a nightmare for everyone concerned.
“It can be the most miserable of all outcomes for the patient involved, who just wants to get on with their life.
“It’s also heart-rending for families, and makes life unnecessarily difficult for hard-pressed nurses and hospital managers.
“Usually, a lack of social care packages or care home spaces are the reasons for someone not being able to leave hospital, despite being fit to do so.
“It’s an occurrence all over the country but in the Highlands the problem is almost three times worse than the national average, and the local authority area currently has the highest level of all 32 councils.”
