Rhoda Grant MSP comments on the NHS bed blocking issue in NHS Highland

25th February 2015

Highlands & Islands MSP and Shadow Minister for Sport and Health Inequalities, Rhoda Grant has said that the Scottish Government really need to address the bed blocking issue to release pressure on the NHS.

Speaking today she said " The BBC reports that an average of 1,216 beds per day were blocked in Scotland during the festive period. In the NHS Highland area, between 15 December 2014 and 8 January 2015 ( 25 days ) there were 3076 cases of beds being blocked and every single day over this period there were in well in excess of 100 cases".

"Since taking over the Health brief SNP Minister Shona Robison has repeatedly said that bed blocking would be her key priority. She should start to tackle this issue which is a huge problem rather than blaming others".

“A&E Departments and staff are stretched to breaking point and the issue is being exacerbated by the disconnect with the care services in providing appropriate home care. This disconnect is what causes bed blocking, because patients are having to spend longer than they need to in hospital, waiting whilst a suitable care package is being put together”.

“ What the public should remember is that the SNP Government have cut beds since coming to power. In NHS Highland these cuts equate to 206 beds”.

Highland
(2005)1,098 (2006) 1,111 (2007) 1,092 (2008) 1,059 (2009) 1,076 (2010) 1,038 (2011) 953 (2012) 899 (2013) 878 (2014) 886