Delayed discharge 'broken promise' slammed by MSP

In Lanarkshire, a total of 4694 bed days were lost in March

- ROSS THOMSON

Central Scotland Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher has slammed the Scottish Government’s “broken promise” to eradicate delayed discharge in NHS Lanarkshire.

Ms Gallacher’s call comes after new statistics from Public Health Scotland showed that over 60,000 bed days were lost in March alone because of so-called bed-blocking across Scotland's hospitals.

That was a rise from the 58,646 days lost to bed-blocking in the same month last year.

The “shocking” figures come despite the then health secretary Shona Robison promising to “eradicate” delayed discharge over a decade ago.

In NHS Lanarkshire, a total of 4694 bed days were lost, despite patients being otherwise fit and healthy to return home.