Main points

Number of people delayed

At the December 2022 census point, there were 1,838 people delayed. This is a decrease of 7% from the November 2022 census point when 1,977 people were delayed. This drop between November and December is likely to be a seasonal effect and has been seen each year since July 2016, when the current guidance came into place.

Length of delay at census point

Of those delayed at the December 2022 census point, the average (median) length of delay was 28 days, an increase of 22% on the figure of 23 days reported for the previous four months.

Delayed Discharge bed use in Scotland from December 2019 to December 2022 by delay reason 1

1 Further information on the Delay Reason definitions is available in the Definitions we use section of this publication.

Average number of beds occupied per day

In December 2022, the average number of beds occupied per day due to delayed discharges was 1,878, a decrease of 4% from the November 2022 figure of 1,950 (which was the highest figure since the current guidance came into place in July 2016). This drop between November and December is likely to be a seasonal effect and has been seen each year since July 2016.

The chart above shows that the trend in the average daily number of beds occupied by people delayed in their discharge is driven by the trend in standard delays (health and social care and patient, family and carer related) reasons.

Delayed days in hospital

In December 2022, there were 58,211 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. This is an increase of 23% compared with the number of delayed days in December 2021 (47,177).

Last updated: 11 December 2024
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