Health Secretary Shona Robison has been criticised after she admitted she was unaware that a Highland woman was trapped in hospital for nearly a year.
Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon said she was “shocked” that the SNP minister had not heard about the plight of Debbie Michie whose story has been extensively covered by the Press and Journal.
The 61-year-old of Nethy Bridge was released from hospital in Grantown in September after spending nearly a year there because there were not enough carers available to look after her at home.
Ms Scanlon said the minister’s admission suggested she did not fully appreciate the impact of bed blocking on patients and their families due to a shortage of care home places or care at home provision.
A total of 178 people were forced to wait more than 14 days to be discharged from Highland hospitals between January and October last year and 97 people died before they could be released between 2012-14.
Ms Robison’s lack of insight was exposed during a debate at Holyrood when she told MSPs tackling delayed discharge was her “top priority” and problems appeared to stem from different services not working together properly.
Ms Scanlon, a Highland MSP, said: “Health and social care have been integrated for two years now in the Highlands and yet there are still people such as Debbie Michie whose discharge was delayed for more than 12 months – it is not the only answer.”
Ms Robison, whose face was momentarily flushed with confusion, replied: “If Mary Scanlon wants to write to me about that particular patient, I will look into the circumstances.
“I am not saying that this is the only answer, but it represents a significant shift.”
Speaking later, Ms Scanlon said: “The health secretary constantly says that with the integration of health and social care this problem will be solved.
“Well we have had that in the Highlands for two years and yet people are detained in hospital for over 12 months when they have been assessed as fit to go home and be supported by home carers.
“I was absolutely shocked that the minister was not aware of Ms Michie’s case.
“I am surprised she is not aware of the extent of the problem and the drastic effect this is having on patients.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said delayed discharges had been reduced by two-thirds since the SNP took office but ministers recognised that waiting too long was “bad for the patient and the NHS”.
“Health and social care integration is a key way to tackle delayed discharge, but not the only way, as the cabinet secretary made absolutely clear,” he added.
“That is why we are already working closely with seven partnerships, before legislation comes into force in April, to tackle some of the worst delays in the system.
“We are seeing the benefits of investing in additional resources – including more home care, development of intermediate care and technology solutions, recruitment and training of our workforce and more care home places.
“We understand the distress that being delayed in hospital causes individuals.
“That is why we are making these improvements and why the cabinet secretary has instructed that the case of Debbie Michie is investigated thoroughly.”