Executive releases more investment to tackle delayed discharge

The Scottish executive has released £15 million to local
authorities and NHS boards to tackle delayed discharge following an
announcement by Frank McAveety, deputy minister for health and
community care.

The funding is the second tranche of additional investment of
£20 million announced in January 2002. An initial grant of
£5 million was released straight away to begin the process,
which is expected to create another 1,000 places in the community
this year. The remainder has now been released after the
executive’s receipt of joint council and health board plans
for their areas.

McAveety said: “With the release of the £15 million we can
now step up the initiative in every corner of the country. But I
want to make it very clear that we will continue to monitor
performance closely. We are taking a rigorous approach to this
investment – indeed more rigorous than ever before.”