Fall in delayed discharge of Aberdeenshire patients
The number of people from Aberdeenshire who were delayed in hospital dropped in 2016 with delays shorter than in previous years too.
The number of people from Aberdeenshire who were delayed in hospital dropped in 2016 with delays shorter than in previous years too.
The number of bed days lost due to people being delayed in hospital dropped by more than 9,000 – in real terms, that’s the same as an extra ward being opened for a year. But there is still work to do for the Health and Social Care partnership, with 20,639 days lost to delayed discharge in 2016.
The Integration Joint Board has made tackling Delayed Discharge one of its main priorities.
Cllr Anne Allan, Chair of Integration Joint Board said: “Significant progress has been made over the last 18 months to reduce the number of people from Aberdeenshire being unnecessarily delayed in hospital.
“One area which has been particularly successful is the introduction of intermediate care beds. This is where a person is moved from hospital to a temporary care bed, usually in a care home, for a few days to continue their rehabilitation prior to going home. Early evidence suggests this is very effective at building their confidence and independence, reducing the chances of them being readmitted to hospital.”
Dr Lynda Lynch, Vice Chair of Integration Joint Board said: “I would like to congratulate all those involved in reducing the number of people delayed in hospital. We are acutely aware though that 41 people delayed in hospital is not just a statistic but represents 41 people who should be at home, not in a hospital bed. We will continue to work together to try and reduce this further.
“In any given month however, up to 20% of delayed discharges in Aberdeenshire are due to issues with guardianship. Many people wrongly believe a family member or next of kin can automatically act on your behalf, but no one has the right to make decisions for you unless legally appointed to do so. We would therefore urge people to think carefully about getting a Power of Attorney. It would only be invoked if you were unable to make decisions for yourself."