A £3.6m boost to Hospital at Home for Older People is to be delivered this year, as the latest review of the service reveals it has exceeded its targets across several key areas.

A progress update shows the number of patients managed by Hospital at Home services rose by 24% from April 2023 to March 2024 compared to last year.

It also shows the service has become the eighth biggest “hospital” for emergency older inpatients across Scotland – ahead of University Hospital Crosshouse.

Hospital at Home saw its busiest month in January this year, seeing over 1,700 patients.

This represents a 54% increase when compared with January 2023.

Hospital at Home is designed to provide a safe, patient-centred alternative to acute hospital admissions for patients who do not or are not able to attend hospital.

Patients receive treatment in their own home, reducing the emotional impact of being admitted and reducing pressures on the hospital site.

The government says the services will be funded this year by £3.6m – matching last year’s investment.

The government says that total bed numbers have increased by over 57% between 2023 and 2024, exceeding its 50% target.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray said:

“These figures from HIS show that Hospital at Home is becoming an increasingly popular care alternative for elderly patients to receive acute treatment in a place they feel comfortable and familiar with.

“There are more Hospital at Home beds available and an increasing number of patients choosing to use the service.

“Hospital at Home gives people greater independence during their recovery process. Evidence shows that those benefitting from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after an acute illness.

“It is also one of a range of measures that we have put in place to tackle delayed discharge numbers and free up beds within our hospitals.”

In total 14,467 patients accessed the service over the last 12 months – up from 11,686 in the preceding period.

One of these patients told Care Opinion they felt very reassured, adding that the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Hospital at Home nurses were “amazing”.

The Scottish government’s continuing investment in Hospital at Home for Older People was welcomed by Belinda Robertson, Associate Director of Improvement, Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

She said:

“This announcement of additional funding will continue to improve access to Hospital at Home services and make them more sustainable to the benefit of patients across Scotland. It’s heartening to see that Hospital at Home services prevented over 14,400 people spending time in hospital over the past year.

“Moreover, with our support we’ve witnessed more NHS boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships embracing Hospital at Home by establishing and developing services.

“We look forward to continuing to help services develop and share learning in the year ahead.”

Read more: Expanding hospital at home services; A pharmacist on the frontline; Auditor General: Difficult choices for Scotland's NHS; New tech to cut NHS theatre waiting lists; Workforce and public to inform NHS reform; Reframing how we value carers

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