What action it intends to take to address delays in allocating elderly people in hospital in West Lothian places in residential or nursing …

Health Boards continue to work with their local authority partners in addressing all avenues to reduce and, where possible, remove delays in discharge from NHS Care.We are aware that an increase in referrals from St Johns Hospital for residential and nursing home places has resulted in an increase in the number of patients awaiting discharge in West Lothian. Lothian Health Board, the West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust and West Lothian Council are working together to address the issue.The Trust is considering additional funding to facilitate the placement of a number of patients currently occupying orthopaedic beds and West Lothian Council is looking to temporarily increase the number of places in its residential care homes to meet the needs of 10 patients currently awaiting places in Council residential homes.