Question
Untitled item
S6W-03606 · Written Question · lodged by Baillie, Jackie
Lodged on
07 Oct 2021Heard / answered on
23 Dec 2021To ask the Scottish Government how many additional acute beds are planned for the NHS in response to the anticipated winter pressures, and whether these will be permanent or temporary beds, broken down by NHS board.
The answer
A key component to freeing up bed capacity in our hospitals this winter is to reduce the level of delayed discharge and strengthen community services to help avoid acute admissions and maximise capacity. To support this, we are providing £300 million to bolster the workforce and help get people the care they need as quickly as possible this winter. Controlling Covid admissions will also be vital to freeing up hospital beds and helping those who are working so hard in the NHS and social care to keep us safe
We continue to work with NHS Boards and their partners to implement their winter plans which includes increasing the number of staffed beds available. Recruitment for this is underway across acute and community services to ensure best use of available resource.
In November I announced additional winter funding of £10 million for Health Boards to ensure resilience over winter. This funding will be targeted towards enhancing local teams. For example, the deployment of expert physio and occupational therapy staff at A&E units to help triage people best treated elsewhere.
Additionally, as part of our winter plan we’re providing boards with £10 million for two new specialist programmes which will speed up the hospital discharge process or provide an alternative to hospital care altogether.
We continue to work with NHS Boards and their partners to implement their winter plans which includes increasing the number of staffed beds available. Recruitment for this is underway across acute and community services to ensure best use of available resource.
In November I announced additional winter funding of £10 million for Health Boards to ensure resilience over winter. This funding will be targeted towards enhancing local teams. For example, the deployment of expert physio and occupational therapy staff at A&E units to help triage people best treated elsewhere.
Additionally, as part of our winter plan we’re providing boards with £10 million for two new specialist programmes which will speed up the hospital discharge process or provide an alternative to hospital care altogether.
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 23 Dec 2021.