Scotsman blames NHS for keeping vulnerable elderly in hospitals and ‘hogging’ beds NOT needed for coronavirus patients as pandemic spreads in their communities

Unavailable for WHAT?

Looking at the data yesterday, I wondered which ‘health correspondent’ would spot the potential here to try to accuse NHS Scotland of something, regardless of the important facts of its performance, now saving more lives per capita, than any other NHS in the UK with a death rate around 50% of the UK or Welsh averages.

In the Scotsman this morning:

‘Hospitals had record-high levels of unavailable beds due to delayed discharges in the month before the coronavirus outbreak hit, NHS Scotland figures show.’

It’s true but it doesn’t matter unless you are sneaky wee jackal journalist.

Listen to this.

There is no waiting list for admission of coronavirus cases. They’re all straight in.

There are 199 patients in intensive care but NHS Scotland already has 700 intensive care beds.

With an estimated 3,000 hospital beds expected to be available for coronavirus patients in traditional hospitals across Scotland it’s hoped that none of the beds at the temporary hospital would be needed.

The infection rate and the death rate are already beginning to fall.

AND

Why do you think hospitals might have kept more old folk IN rather than dumping them in the community just as evidence of a pandemic spreading became apparent?

5 thoughts on “Scotsman blames NHS for keeping vulnerable elderly in hospitals and ‘hogging’ beds NOT needed for coronavirus patients as pandemic spreads in their communities”

  2. I do wonder if the both the Herald and the Scotsman recruit their ‘Journalists’ straight from Primary School or is it simply just a sign of their inbreeding policy that they get things wrong most of the time.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  3. Given these journalists know when NHS Scotland’s regular reports on activity and performance are released, do you think the Scotsman had an alternative ‘frame’ for an article ready just in case the delayed discharge figures had stayed the same or improved?

    ‘SNP government pressure on NHS hospitals to cut delayed discharges adds to “crisis” in care homes and other community support for the old and vulnerable.’

    Good game!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.