The Scottish Conservatives have today launched a ‘Fast Track to Care’ policy to tackle delayed discharge in Scotland’s hospitals, which are at the highest levels on record.
Under the party’s plans, patients in eligible areas with care home capacity, boosted by additional funding, would be placed temporarily in a care home within 48 hours of being declared fit for discharge.
The scheme would only be piloted in council areas where local authorities have proactively opted in.
The proposal would secure up to 600 short-term care home beds in pilot areas by providing funding to Health and Social Care Partnerships in the local council areas that have chosen to take part.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “SNP ministers promised to eradicate delayed discharge a decade ago, but on their watch it's at a record high – with 720,000 bed-days lost last year alone.
“John Swinney should be throwing the kitchen at sink at this crisis. Instead of focusing on our overstretched health service, he’s once again talking up his independence obsession. It’s not just a distraction — it’s a dereliction of duty.
“While he fixates over the constitution, we’re putting forward a bold, practical plan to cut delayed discharge, free up desperately needed hospital capacity and bring down waiting times.
“Our Fast Track to Care proposal would ensure patients are moved into care homes within 48 hours of being declared fit for discharge — by securing up to 600 short-term care home beds in pilot areas and boosting funding for councils that opt in.
“We can’t ignore this crisis any longer. Bold action is needed to reduce the pressure of our NHS and save taxpayers’ money. We’ll keep offering the common-sense solutions Scotland desperately needs.”