Delayed discharges in NHSScotland monthly
Figures for March 2023

Our monthly update

This release provides a monthly update on the:

• number of people experiencing a delay in discharge from hospital at the monthly census point – the last Thursday of the month
• number of hospital bed days associated with delayed discharges in the calendar month
• number of discharges from hospital that followed a period of delay in the calendar month

The data relate to people aged 18 years and over who were clinically ready for discharge.

A selection of information from this publication is included in NHS Performs (external website).

Next release

The next release of this publication will be 6 June 2023.

Number of people delayed

At the March 2023 census point, there were 1,688 people delayed. This is a decrease of 10% on the February 2023 census point when 1,871 people were delayed.

Length of delay at census point

Of those delayed at the March 2023 census point, the average (median) length of delay was 24 days, an increase from 21 days in January and February 2023. The average (median) length of stay prior to delay at census point for March 2023 remained at 45 days, the same as the previous two months.

This is a line chart with three lines showing the trend in the average number of beds occupied per day by people delayed in their discharge for all delay reasons, for standard delay reasons (Health and social care reasons and Patient, family and carer related reasons) and for Code 9 delay reasons (complex delays due to the specific care needs of the person). The chart shows that the majority of delayed discharge beds occupied during this period were due to standard delay reasons and changes in the All delay reasons trend are primarily driven by changes in the standard delay reasons. For All delay reasons, the average number of beds for people delayed in their discharge rose during December 2019 to February 2020, before reducing dramatically in April 2020 due to the introduction of COVID Emergency Measures. There was a similar impact on the number of delays due to standard delay reasons and a more muted effect on Code 9 delay reasons, causing a relatively smaller fall in these numbers. The average number of beds occupied per day for All delay reasons increased each month from April 2020 to September 2020, remaining fairly steady from then to April 2021 before increasing to October 2021. This was followed by a decrease in November and December 2021 then an increase to April 2022 before decreasing in May and June 2022 and then rising in July 2022. The figure remained stable in August 2022 before increasing each month to November 2022, the highest figure since July 2016, since then the figures decreased in December 2022 and January 2023, increased in February 2023 and decreased in March 2023. The proportion of the average number of beds occupied due to standard delay reasons varies over the time period presented. Between December 2019 to April 2020 the proportion fell from 81% of beds to 62% due to the COVID 19 Emergency Measures. In the rest of the financial year 2020/21, as the number of delayed discharge beds attributable to standard delay reasons increased the average proportion for the months rose to 66%; for 2021/22 the average proportion for the year increased to 71% and for 2022/23 it currently averages 72%. The average number of beds occupied by people delayed in their discharge due to Code 9 delay reasons fell from March 2020 to April 2020. The average number of beds then increased gradually to January 2021 before falling in February 2021 and then remained relatively stable to December 2021 before rising again to March 2022. The number then fell gradually to September 2022 before increasing to December 2022 and then decreased each month between January and March 2023.

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Delayed Discharge bed use in Scotland from December 2019 to March 2023, by delay reason¹

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 March 2023, the average number of beds occupied per day due to delayed discharges was 1,743 a 6% decrease from the February 2023 figure of 1,848.

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

Delayed days in hospital

In March 2023, there were 54,046 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. This is an increase of 1% compared with the number of delayed days in March 2022 (53,600).​

All delay reasons

This workbook contains summary statistics for delayed discharges for all delay reason groupings.

Standard delay reasons

This workbook contains statistics for delays in discharge due to standard reasons (health & social care reasons and patient & family related reasons).

Complex delay reasons

This workbook contains statistics for delays in discharge due to code 9 (complex) reasons - Adults with Incapacity (AWI) and other code 9 reasons (non-AWI).

Open data

General enquiries

If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please contact Simon Quirk at phs.delayeddischarges@phs.scot.

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.

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.