A PATIENT spent nearly three years waiting to be discharged from one of the region’s hospitals, according to statistics.
The data obtained from a freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservatives shows that the longest wait experienced in the region was 916 days, while the average delayed discharge stands at 77 days.
MSP Finlay Carson has described the situation as ‘totally unacceptable’ and demanded urgent action to alleviate the bed-blocking crisis.
He said: “Far too many patients are stuck for far too long in hospitals in NHS Dumfries and Galloway.
“It should be a source of shame for ministers that one patient waited an astonishing 916 days to leave hospital despite being deemed fit to go home, and that on average patients are waiting weeks, if not months, to be discharged.”
Last year Mr Carson highlighted the plight of Brian Gibson who has been stuck in hospital in Stranraer since August 13 – and remains there.
Occupational therapy insist his current home is not suitable for adapting and he needs to be rehoused. However, out of more than 300 houses there are only 12 suitable in the location Brian wants – and these are currently all tenanted. As such, Wheatley Homes South remains in discussion with Brian and his partner Tracy.
Mr Carson added: “These waits not only have a huge impact on the patients involved, they also have devastating knock-on effects for other patients.
“Despite the best efforts of dedicated staff, more and more patients will suffer longer waits at A&E or see operations cancelled at the last minute because beds simply are not available.
“The figures must be an urgent wake-up call for Health Secretary Neil Gray to finally get a grip of this crisis. This is exactly where investment in the NHS should be going, rather than being wasted on pointless bureaucracy and pen-pushing.”
