Bed-Blocking Problem Has Not Gone Away – Gabbitas

Health chiefs are still struggling to tackle the high rate of bed blocking in the Lothians, according to new figures. While the number of people across Scotland left languishing in hospital for more than six weeks has been slashed, the NHS Lothian statistics have remained static.

In October last year, bed blocking hit a two-year high with 119 people stuck in hospital. In January this year, that figure had only dropped by one.

NHS Lothian and the city council are now investing £1.1 million to allow 50 people who would normally go into care to stay at home. Each person will be allocated a carer who will be employed for 36 hours a week.

Peter Gabbitas, joint director of health and social care for Edinburgh City Council and NHS Lothian, said: “A continuing shortage of care-home places in Lothian, including Edinburgh, continues to pose severe problems in terms of finding suitable places for people to go upon leaving hospital. We are under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge we face.”

And he added: “We are pressing on with building new public-controlled homes, with four new 60-bed units planned for construction.”