The Scottish Government is set to continue its drive to increase the amount of patients using NHS Scotland’s Hospital at Home service, with £3.6m of new funding.
Figures show that nearly 15,000 older patients used the services last year, which is up by almost a quarter on the previous year.
A total of 13 healthcare providers have been awarded a share of the new funding.
Impact report
The news comes as Healthcare Improvement Scotland publishes a new report on the impact of the country’s Hospital at Home services. It shows that:
- 14,467 patients used the service in 2023—an increase from 11,686;
- total bed numbers increased by 58%—ahead of the Scottish Government’s 50% target;
- around £14.9m was saved in hospital admission costs; and
- approximately £36.3m was saved in post-hospital care due to a reduction in re-admissions.
“I am very pleased to see the progress that local health providers are making on delivering Hospital at Home services and the positive impact it is having, particularly on elderly patients,” said Scotland’s health secretary, Neil Gray.
He added: “Hospital at Home gives people greater independence during their recovery. Evidence shows that those benefitting from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after an acute illness.
“It is also one of a range of measures that we have put in place to tackle delayed discharge numbers and free up beds within our hospitals.”
More to come
“We would like to commend the Hospital at Home services for the fantastic work they’ve done to establish and grow their services,” said Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s associate director of improvement, Belinda Robertson.
She continued: “In the year ahead, we look forward to continuing to support NHS boards and Partnerships to further develop the services they provide, and to share learning across all Hospital at Home services.”
The Scottish Government says it is still finalising two further applications as part of its £3.6m allocation, while NHS Orkney has put its Hospital at Home service on pause.
Confirmed funding recipients include:
- NHS Borders—£600k
- NHS Dumfries and Galloway—£400k
- NHS Ayrshire and Arran £300k
- NHS Highland—£295k
- NHS Lanarkshire—£276k
- NHS Western Isles—£220k
- NHS Forth Valley—£195k
- NHS Shetland—£186k
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde—£165k
- NHS Lothian—£138k
- NHS Tayside—£25k
- NHS Fife—£18k
- NHS Grampian—£8k
The Hospital at Home service was awarded £3.6m of investment last year, which took total investment into the initiative up to more than £10m since 2020.
Image credit: iStock
