Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and First Minister John Swinney.
by Bill Heaney
Most hospital patients would love to spend Christmas at home with their ain folk.
But Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie told the Scottish Parliament that this is unlikely to happen for a significant number of people.
She said: “Health and social care partnerships across Scotland are reporting significant shortfalls in their budgets.
“In Argyll and Bute, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh and the main town and villages, north from there, off the A82 and A83, there is a £6 million budget gap.
“The consequence of that is that, in the past few days, a number of my elderly constituents have found themselves stuck in hospital, medically fit to leave but unable to do so because their care package is simply not being funded.”
She added that First Minister is aware that this is something that will drive up delayed discharge and have a knock-on effect on hospital capacity.
“Ms Baillie asked: “What urgent action will he take to address that crisis in social care, so that my constituents can go home for Christmas?”
“The Government has a keen interest in resolving the issue, because that will reduce pressure in our hospitals, which have been experiencing acute challenges because of the rise in flu admissions, although, thankfully, it looks as though that increase is slowing.
“The Government is working with local authorities to ensure that we have the support in place to meet the needs that Jackie Baillie has raised with me.”