PHS FOI 2026-002509
- Date of request
- 13 October 2026
- Date of response
- 05 November 2026
- FOI request ID
- PHS FOI 2026-002509
- Performance and monitoring
Request
“Please provide the following data for each financial year from 2021/22 to 2025/26, together with the latest available figures for 2026/27 to date.
- Scale of delays
- The total number of delayed discharge cases and, where recorded separately, the number of patients affected.
- The number of cases recorded under Code 9 (Adults with Incapacity/legal-process delays), or the equivalent category.
- The percentage of all delayed discharges represented by these cases.
- A breakdown by NHS health board, where available.
- Length and impact of delays
For these AWI/legal-process-related cases, please provide, where available:
- Average and median length of delay, in days.
- The longest recorded delay.
- Total delayed discharge bed days.
- The number of cases involving delays exceeding 7, 28 and 90 days.
Please also provide any existing estimates of the associated cost to NHS Scotland.
- Power of Attorney and guardianship
Please provide any existing data or analysis specifically relating to delayed discharges where the absence of a registered Power of Attorney, the need for a guardianship order or a pending legal application was identified as a contributing factor.
If these factors are not recorded separately, please confirm this where possible and provide the relevant definitions of Code 9 or equivalent categories.
- Trends and supporting information
Please provide any existing analysis showing how the number or duration of these delays has changed over the period requested, together with any relevant reports or guidance on the recording of AWI/legal-process delays and their relationship with Power of Attorney or guardianship arrangements.”