Western Isles NHS has been awarded £640,000 of extra Scottish Government funding to tackle the problem of bedblocking in island hospitals.
This is part of a wider package of £100 million being spent in combating delayed discharges across Scotland.
Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said: “Throughout Scotland the Scottish Government has recognised the need to work with health boards and local authorities to address the issue of delayed discharge.
Extra funding to tackle hospital bedblocking
23 January 2015
“Nobody wants to have to stay long term on a hospital ward, however caring the staff there are.
“It is particularly in the interests of older people that they get home, or if they need to get into residential accommodation, rather than be left for any longer than they need to in a hospital situation.”
Mr Allan added: “This money is designed to ensure that fewer people have to stay in hospital wards simply because a care package is not in place to allow them home.
“I look forward to working with both the health board and the Comhairle in seeing how best this money can now be invested locally to overcome the problem which undoubtedly exists here.”