USING TECHNOLOGY TO TACKLE DELAYED DISCHARGES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 26, 2010 -- Two reports at a recent meeting of the above board (Tuesday 23rd Feb) highlighted the work currently being carried out to ensure that Renfrewshire Council meet the national targets for delayed discharges.

Renfrewshire Council has received an additional £100,000 from the Scottish Government – on a matched funding basis – to further develop their telecare system. Renfrewshire is already seen as a leading authority in the development of telecare services, with around 3,000 people signed up. Cllr Tracie McGee said, “Telecare is an extremely service that combines with care services to support people to continue to live independently in their own home.”

“We have also tackled head-on the issue of delayed discharges. Telecare services can not only help in reducing unplanned admissions to hospital in the first place but can also assist people to return to their own homes and live as independently as possible.”

There is however a wider problem of delayed discharges, due to a number of factors including the 2.5% year on year increase in elderly people in Renfrewshire and the lack of funding for sufficient care and nursing home placements. However, Cllr McGee added, “At the last budget meeting the council agreed to divert the money from the Senior Citizens Voucher Scheme towards increasing the number of care and nursing home placements we could provide. This means that elderly patients who no longer require hospital care, but cannot return to their own homes can now be provided with care placements – providing a far better quality of life for them”.