Delayed discharges in NHSScotland monthly
Figures for April 2023
A National Statistics publication for Scotland
- Published
- 06 June 2023
- Type
- Statistical report
- Author
- Public Health Scotland
Further information
How we calculate our figures
The average number of beds occupied per day is calculated by dividing the total monthly number of delayed discharge bed days by the number of days in the calendar month.
We consider this daily average a better statistic for comparing month-on-month differences as the number of days in a month varies.
The percentage change is based on rounded figures.
Effects of COVID-19 on figures
The measures put in place to respond to COVID-19 have affected the delayed discharge figures in NHSScotland.
The marked fall in delayed discharges during 2020 is likely to be due to patients being moved out of hospital to increase capacity.
Definitions we use
Delay reasons
Since April 2016, following the integration of health and social care partnerships, delays are reported in three main categories.
- Health and social care reasons
Where a person remains inappropriately in hospital after treatment is complete and is awaiting appropriate arrangements to be made by the health and social care partnership for safe discharge.
- Patient, family and carer related reasons
This includes delays due to legal reasons and disagreements.
- Code 9 complex reasons
It is acknowledged that some discharge arrangements may be more complex due to the specific care needs of the person. Complex delays have been captured as code 9 from 2006.
Delays due to health and social care reasons and patient, family and carer-related reasons can be aggregated into a single standard delay reasons category.
Code 9 complex reasons can be split into:
- code 9 - Adults with incapacity (AWI) reasons
- code 9 - other reasons
The latest data definitions and national data requirements came into effect on 1 July 2016. The Data and Intelligence site provides details on definitions and data requirements.
The figures in this publication are not directly comparable with other UK countries. This is due to differences in definitions and data reporting.
Statistical designation
This is a National Statistics publication.
National Statistics status means that the official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. They are identified by the quality mark shown on this page.
The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics. This signifies compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics, it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
The statistics last underwent a full assessment by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) against the Code of Practice in September 2011. The OSR is the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority and their website provides access to the full assessment of the statistics.
Visit the UK Statistics Authority UK website to find out more about the Code of Practice.
Find out more about National Statistics on the UK Statistics Authority website.
Early access
Under terms of the "Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008", we are obliged to publish information on those receiving pre-release access ("Pre-Release Access" refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum pre-release access is five working days.
Standard pre-release access for this publication is given to:
- Scottish Government Health Department
- NHS board Chief Executives
- NHS board communication leads
- Chief Officers of Integrated Joint Boards formed under the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 (external website).
More information about delayed discharges
Find out more information about delayed discharges, including data definitions and data submission.