THE Scottish Government has announced a major investment in a care service predominantly aimed at vulnerable elderly people.
Hospital at Home is set to receive £85 million in funding to expand the frailty service, which allows people to be cared for in the comfort of their own homes whilst improving the flow of hospital patients.
The investment in the service – which primarily delivers care to frail, older people with acute illnesses such as respiratory and cardiac conditions, infections, or post-fall treatment in their own homes – will allow for an expansion of up to 2000 beds by December 2026.
Keeping patients at home helps them stay in familiar surroundings, avoid hospital-acquired infections and reduce delays in discharge due to care availability.
Speaking during a visit to Falkirk Community Hospital, First Minister John Swinney said: “I am resolutely focused on taking the necessary action to reduce wait times and clear the blockages leading to delayed discharges across our NHS.
“This investment will ensure many patients can receive first class NHS care in the comfort of their own homes and not have to travel to a hospital where it isn’t required.
“Expanding Hospital at Home to 2000 beds by December 2026 will create the largest ‘hospital’ in the country, thereby improving the flow of patients throughout the NHS and generating greater capacity for staff.
“The staff delivering this service at Falkirk Community Hospital are testament to the success of Hospital at Home and it’s been eye opening to see the effort that goes into providing this first class care.
“The NHS is Scotland’s greatest treasure but we know we must do better to ensure patients get the care they need, when and where they need it.
“The 2025-26 Budget provides record funding of £21bn for Health and Social Care services – with NHS boards across Scotland receiving an additional £2bn to deliver key front line services.”
The funding will also be used to support the introduction of frailty services in every A&E department by the end of summer 2025, aiming to cut the average length of stay for vulnerable patients.
Dr Sarah Henderson, consultant geriatrician with NHS Forth Valley’s Hospital at Home Service, said: “Our local Hospital at Home team does an amazing job to help ensure that patients, who in the past would have to come into hospital, are able to remain in their own homes and access the specialist clinical care and support they require.
“Over the last four years the service has helped thousands of local patients and the feedback we have received from them and their families has been overwhelmingly positive as they really appreciate everything the team does to help them stay out of hospital and in familiar surroundings at home, close to their family, friends and pets.
“I am delighted that the additional funding announced today will help us expand the Hospital at Home service further as well as develop local heart failure, respiratory and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) services to help more people remain at home and still access the specialist care they require."
