'Domino effect' as SNP falls short on hospital discharges

THE Scottish Government is overseeing “a catastrophic domino effect” with its failure to tackle delayed discharges, a problem which may be costing taxpayers £440million a year.

- BY RICHARD ELIAS

An Audit Scotland report released today showed more than 720,000 bed days were lost in 2024-25 with patients being well enough to be discharged, with one in every nine beds in Scottish healthcare settings occupied by someone who did not need to be there.

Last night, the Scottish Conservatives' shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: "This lays bare the ongoing damage caused by the SNP's broken promise to eradicate delayed discharge over a decade ago.

"Being trapped needlessly in hospital takes a huge toll on patients' physical and mental health. Delayed discharge also has a catastrophic domino effect on our NHS, causing last-minute cancelled operations and huge backlogs in A&E departments.

"The SNP squandered £30m on a doomed national care service and have no solution to the crisis in social care that lies at the root of the problem. They should adopt the Scottish Conservatives' 'Fast Track to Care' policy, which would guarantee patients are moved into care homes within 48 hours of being declared fit for discharge. Our plan would deliver up to 600 short-term care home beds in pilot areas and funding for councils that step up.