Glasgow woman spent three years in hospital despite being fit for discharge

A woman spent three years in hospital despite being fit and ready for discharge.

Sylvia Sharma, originally from Scotstoun in Glasgow, was rushed to hospital for treatment in 2021 after she suffered a fall at home.

She waited three years for a care package to be arranged, but plans fell through several times due to the “unique equipment” she required.

The long spell in hospital took its toll on Sylvia’s mental health.

“It’s not a nice place to be in, worrying about it,” she told STV News.

“Other nurses came and asked how long I’d been in. When I told them, some thought I was kidding, I wasn’t kidding; I was serious.

“Even they were in shock.”

According to Public Health Scotland, the number of people stuck in Scottish hospitals because their discharge has been delayed is the highest on record.

In October, 2,030 people couldn’t be discharged – an increase of 79 from September (1,951) – the worst since guidelines were changed in July 2016.

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray says “reducing delayed discharges” is a priority for the government STV News

People waiting to be discharged spent 62,914 days in hospital, an 11% increase on the number of delayed days a year earlier in October 2023 (56,762).

A new report from Audit Scotland, the nation’s public finance watchdog, said NHS Scotland needs “urgent” reform.

Sylvia moved to Florence House Care home in Glasgow, part of the Oakminster Care group, in November 2023.

“Nobody cared about the situation I was in,” she said.

“If I was being treated like that, they were obviously treating other people like that. It’s not fair to a lot of people.

“There’s going to be a lot of people who have nowhere to go back to. They will just fall under the radar.”

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray said “reducing delayed discharges” was a priority for the government.

He also revealed that plans to improve health and social care will be “at the heart” of the budget this week.

A spokesperson for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Sylvia has very unique equipment needs that required a room large enough to accommodate.

“Finding the right accommodation and service that could meet Sylvia’s assessed needs took time, given her exceptional needs and the limited availability of accommodation and staff she requires. We are delighted with the positive move to Florence House.

“We continue to work hard to support individuals with very complex needs, to move on from hospital into the right accommodation with the right support.”