Chamber and committees

Reducing delayed discharge is a long standing objective given the clinical benefit to patients. Following the Covid-19 outbreak the Scottish Government commenced the collection of daily delayed discharge management information from Health and Social Care Partnerships. Since recording began on 4 March over 1,000 patients whose discharge was delayed were discharged from hospital to a community setting, a 63% reduction (as at 30 April 2020).

This information does not include destination on discharge. However, based on data collected by Public Health Scotland for the February Delayed Discharge census returns suggests that around 71% of delayed discharges return to their own home, and 29% are admitted to a care home. Local information from Health and Social Care Partnerships suggests this trend has continued through the current crisis, albeit there may be some people who move temporarily to care homes before returning home.

Figures for calendar month February 2020 are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Number of discharges following a period of delay where the delay reason was awaiting completion of care arrangements or place availability 1 ; Calendar month February 2020

It is important that we acknowledge the role and sacrifice made by key workers and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The First Minister stresses this in her daily briefings and also notes the personal loss that is experienced by friends and family to those who have tragically lost their lives.

The Scottish Government’s focus is currently on tackling the disease, its impact on our society and how we might safely ease the country’s current lockdown restrictions. In the fullness of time, we will consider what would be an appropriate and meaningful way for the nation to pay its respects.

The Scottish Government's focus is currently on tackling the disease, its impact on our society and how we might safely ease the country's lockdown restrictions. This will continue to be our priority. It is right that a process of scrutiny should takes place once it is possible to determine the scope and scale of such a process. Scottish Ministers will carefully consider the most appropriate options for doing so in the fullness of time so that lessons can be learned.

This specific information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of patients who may have died after discharge from hospital.

Our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 has been and continues to be guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), which feeds into SAGE.

SAGE advises both COBR and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) Group which comprises of the CMOs from all four administrations in the UK. Scottish Ministers received further advice from the Scottish CMO and the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group.

Advice and guidance on moving into lockdown was provided by these groups and all decisions were made following scientific and medical advice.

Published papers from SAGE and the Scottish Government Covid-19 Advisory Group can be found on the UK Government website and the Scottish Government website .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-28658 on 18 May 2020 ; advice and guidance on moving into lockdown in response to the Covid-19 outbreak was received through SAGE, COBR, and the Scottish CMO and all decisions were made on the scientific and medical advice.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Number of deaths which occurred in Scotland, day by day between 1 February and 19 April

This information is not held centrally. It may be available on request from individual health boards.

Number of "excess" deaths which occurred by day between 1 February and 19 April compared with "what would normally have been expected" based on the previous 20 years.