Scots mental health patients facing long delays

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Many mental health patients are waiting for years to be discharged

In three Scottish health boards, patients had to wait more than three years to be moved out of a unit despite being declared ready to leave.

According to BBC Scotland, more than 19 patients have waited more than 12 months to be discharged over the past two years, while a further 32 had to wait more than 100 days.

The matter was branded a “human rights issue” by one campaigner, while opposition politicians labelled the waits a “national disgrace”. 

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All demanded action from the Scottish Government.

NHS Lothian saw the longest wait, recorded at 1,200 days, while NHS Tayside listed one delay of 1,196 days and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde one at 1,193. The Tayside and Glasgow patients had complex needs and were awaiting transfer to specialist facilities, while no information was provided for the delay in Lothian.

No one should wait longer than absolutely necessary to leave hospital

Health Secretary Shona Robison

Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland chief executive Colin McKay said delays were a “human rights issue”.

He added: “These are people who are in hospital when they don’t need to be and sometimes don’t want to be.

“They may have been detained in the hospital under the Mental Health Act and are being required to stay there for substantially longer periods than they need to be for their clinical needs. That just isn’t acceptable.”

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In three Scottish health boards, patients had to wait more than three years to be moved

Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland chairman Dr John Crichton said: “There will always be challenges in providing services for people with very specific needs but there are examples of good practice in Scotland, such as providing bespoke packages of care for those with intellectual disabilities.”

Professor Jason Leitch, national clinical director of healthcare quality and strategy, stressed those enduring lengthy delays were “exceptional cases” affecting “very, very small numbers” of patients who faced “very, very long delays” to be discharged.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: “These cases are usually enormously complex, sometimes incredibly sad actually. 

“These are not the conventional delayed discharges where the system just needs to speak to each other a bit better and we’ll get people out in three or four weeks if we just work a little harder.”

Scottish Tory mental health spokeswoman Annie Wells said: “The SNP has promised for years to tackle delayed discharge, but the figures show no sign of improvement.

“Examples here show the extreme cases where vulnerable people are fit to leave hospital but have nowhere to go, sometimes for years on end. It’s unacceptable and has to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

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BBC Scotland said 19 patients waiter more than 12 months to be discharged over the past two years

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “These cases are exceptional circumstances – mental health patients can present extremely complex needs where mainstream care provision is simply unsuitable.

“NHS Scotland counts every delay of any duration and for any reason. 

“I’m clear that no one should wait longer than absolutely necessary to leave hospital and that’s why we have legislated to integrate health and social care to ensure services are planned and commissioned in a joined-up way from a single budget. 

This ensures staff across health and social care work together to give people the right care and support for their needs.