Urgent action needed for delayed discharges

3rd August 2017

People with mental health problems are spending too long in hospital according to information gathered by the BBC. 

The BBC has conducted a UK-wide investigation of delayed discharges among mental health inpatients and SAMH has been asked to comment. 

Billy Watson, Chief Executive at SAMH said:

“Keeping people with mental health problems in hospital longer than is necessary isn’t good for their mental health or their long term recovery. We want to see people being treated on an individual basis and settling back into their community as soon as they are ready to do so.   

“The reason behind the increase in delayed discharges is clear. We’ve seen reducing budgets for social care services across many areas in Scotland.  If services aren’t available in the community, then people can’t be safely discharged from hospital. We need to start investing in our community mental health services. 

“For some time SAMH has been calling for an Ask Once Get Help Fast approach to mental health, based on our knowledge that it takes too long and is too hard to get help for a mental health problem. We were pleased that the Scottish Government’s new Mental Health Strategy promised to introduce such an approach. But leaving people in hospital, when they could be flourishing in their communities, does not live up to that promise.  

“This is not an isolated issue. The report card on Scotland’s mental health systems is flagging up problems in several areas, like missed waiting time’s targets on CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and psychological therapies. 

“We need urgent action from both the Scottish Government and local health bodies, to make sure we don’t see this number rise any further.”