No bed blocking in Scottish hospitals

THERE were no cases of 'bed blocking' in Scotland's hospitals last month for only the second time ever, figures disclosed today.

Health service statistics for April this year showed that no patients had to wait longer than six weeks to be discharged.

The only other time this has been achieved was in April last year.

And it compares with January's figures, which showed that 79 patients were still in hospital six weeks after they were ready to leave.

The problem of bed-blocking, known as "delayed discharges", has involved patients, usually elderly, who are ready to leave hospital but unable to do so for various reasons, such as lack of a place in a care home.

And it peaked in October 2001, when 2,162 hospital patients had to wait longer than six weeks to be discharged.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "This Government has, in partnership with NHS boards and local authorities, made tackling delayed discharges a top priority.

"Our guiding principle has been that no patient should be left languishing in a hospital bed when they are well enough to leave. This is frustrating for the patients themselves but may also mean much-needed beds are not available for those who need them.

"So I am delighted that these figures show no patient was waiting longer than six weeks after being ready for discharge."

She added: "This returns us to the position first reached in April 2008 and we will continue to devote all our energies to maintaining and improving upon this achievement."

The figures for April showed that 468 hospital patients were delayed after they were ready to be discharged – but no one had to wait more than six weeks, which is the target.