Patients staying in mental health wards 111,130 days more than necessary

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the SNP/Green Government to enhance investment in mental health community care after new figures revealed that in 2022/23 more than 111,000 bed days were spent in mental health wards by people who no longer needed in-patient care but whose discharge had been delayed.      

Public Health Scotland have released figures which show:  

• In 2022/23, mental health patients who no longer needed in-patient care spent 111,130 days waiting to leave hospital.  
• This represents a rise of 13% increase from the 98,716 days lost in 2021/22.      

A delayed discharge occurs when a patient, clinically ready for discharge, cannot leave hospital because the other necessary care, support or accommodation for them is not readily accessible or cannot be funded.    

In 2021, an investigation by the Ferret uncovered mental health delayed discharges of more than three years. Responding to that investigation, Executive Director of the Mental Welfare Commission, Claire Lamza, said that while “some people need complex care and support, which can take time to put in place…a hospital is not a home, and having people stay for years in a hospital environment, often without all the facilities they should have, is not acceptable.”    

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:  

"Thousands of NHS bed days are being lost and patients trapped in hospitals when they could be properly cared for in the community and at home.

“For vulnerable people struggling with their mental health, not being able to leave hospital can be particularly upsetting, especially when the main roadblock is lack of social care packages. They need robust community care that brings them closer to their support networks, enables a sustained recovery and rebuilds lives. It's also bad for the NHS because those beds are not available to treat others in need.    

“Delayed discharges from mental health specialities can be of a very complex nature, but those challenges are made so much worse by the pressures and gaps in community care.    

“The SNP’s track record on mental health has been utterly dismal. I cannot understand how nationalist ministers can hear the stories of children and adults in mental torment and respond with budget cuts and inaction.      

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would ensure everyone has access to comprehensive mental health support in the community. That means investing in community-based services that will deliver appropriate clinical support, accommodation and tenancy support, and training more professionals in key roles from psychiatrists to mental health officers."