Information relating to delayed discharge of patients: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for information relating to delayed discharge patients, broken down as follows:

• Delays related to the provision of discharge prescriptions
• Delays related to delays over provision of discharge papers
• Delays related to transport/ambulance provision
• Delays in setting up care packages/or care home placements/ rehabilitation facilities

Response

I enclose of some of the information you requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

Some of the information you have requested is available from Public Health Scotland, who publish a monthly census of delayed discharges on Scotland, which is available to view at
https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/delayed-discharges-in-nhsscotland-monthly/delayeddischarges-in-nhsscotland-monthly-figures-for-june-2023#section-1.

The monthly census includes a breakdown of the main reasons for delay, including assessment and care provision delays which are classed as Standard Delays. However, data related to prescriptions or discharge papers are not available. The latest census data for June 2023 shows:

• 235 Assessment delays
• 406 care home delays
• 561 care package delays
• 1 transport delay.

There is also a cohort of patients with more complex needs who are delayed, this includes:

• 38 complex care package delays
• 41 awaiting specialist residential facility (under 65) delays
• 22 specialist residential facility (65+) delays

This information, and details of the other reasons for delay can be found within the Downloads section at the link above.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.