LABOUR POLITICIANS ARE highlighting another increase in delayed discharge rates from hospitals throughout Scotland.
Delayed discharge rates are important in Moray and throughout Scotland because where they occur hospital beds are tied up by patients who would under most circumstances continue their care at home.
Bed days lost in Scotland due to delayed discharge were shown to have increased in October to 1576 – up from 1524 in September.
That prompted Labour to call for investment in social care ahead of the forthcoming Scottish Budget statement, asking the SNP government to rethink any further cuts to local councils who provide social care.
Labour Health spokesperson Anas Sarwar said: “The SNP promised to abolish delayed discharge, instead it is getting worse month on month.
“Further cuts to local councils which provide social care will only make this worse, and it shows the complete mismanagement of our NHS under the SNP.
“Fixing delayed discharge will relieve the pressure on our hospitals and NHS staff meaning better patient care for everyone – but we can only do that if we invest properly in social care.
“In the budget on Thursday, the SNP must not pass on more cuts to councils which provide social care.”
It is an issue that is being addressed in Moray, with Moray Council working in partnership with housing associations and Health and Social Care Moray. This has seen the opening of new centres where elderly patients can be placed in premises such as the newly completed Varis Court in Forres and currently under construction Glassgreen in Elgin.
For five of the units in Forres, qualified nursing staff are being provided around the clock helping elderly patients recover from hospital within their own community.