Health and social care staff praised as Renfrewshire continues strong delayed discharge performance

Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff have been applauded for their "commitment" as the organisation continues its stellar performance on delayed discharge.

Recent data shows the area has just 12.6 delays per 100,000 adult population – a figure comfortably below the Scottish Government target of 34.6. It comes as a weekly meeting is established – named the collaborative response and assurance group – aimed at reducing delays in Scotland to pre-pandemic levels.

Chief officers across the country are expected to attend the summit alongside Scottish Government colleagues, the Care Inspectorate and COSLA [Convention of Scottish Local Authorities].

Christine Laverty, chief officer of Renfrewshire HSCP, paid tribute to workers as the partnership's methods catch the attention of senior figures in other areas. She said: "I am absolutely delighted with our performance relating to delayed discharges and, importantly, we have been able to sustain this over the last two years.

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"I'm incredibly proud of the work and commitment shown by our staff to ensure that people of Renfrewshire in hospital who are fit for discharge – either to their home or to a homely setting – are discharged as quickly as possible, with the HSCP providing home support packages as appropriate.

"Often these patients are elderly with frailty and we know the very best place for them to recover is at home or in a homely setting with family and friends."

A delayed discharge can occur when a patient, who is clinically ready for discharge, cannot leave the hospital because they do not have the necessary care, support or accommodation accessible. Councillor Iain McMillan, a member of the integration joint board (IJB), the body responsible for oversight of the HSCP, said: "In this area, they're doing a very good job on that – there's no denying that.

"Despite other issues that we may have concerns about, they continue to do a really good job. Their performance is excellent. When I was chair of the IJB – some time ago now – it was a really big issue then and they put a lot of resources into it.

"They improved the performance and the turnaround has been quite remarkable. It's intensive, it's not down to luck or chance, there's a lot of hard work gone into it by officers.

"It was the right thing to do. We can't have poor souls stuck in hospitals because there's maybe not been adaptations done or there isn't a plan. They do a really good job and I think to be honest other health authorities could learn a lot from Renfrewshire."

Ms Laverty added: "Several HSCP colleagues across Scotland have reached out to me to get support in how we do this and what our processes are. As always, I’m very happy to assist colleagues and share the Renfrewshire approach. Delayed discharges remain a key priority for us."

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