Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 27 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the discharge process for older and terminally ill patients to ensure that the provision of essential equipment and support is mandated within 48 hours of a discharge plan being finalised.
The Scottish Government is aware how crucial equipment is in supporting a patient to be cared for and to live safely within their home environment and is committed to delivering a more equitable and accessible approach to the provision of equipment. All individuals, regardless of diagnosis or where they are being treated, should experience a seamless journey through the pathway of care, which ensures they receive the right intervention at the right time. Our national guidance, Supporting documents - Equipment and adaptations: guidance on provision - gov.scot published in 2023, emphasises the importance of this however, once an individual is assessed as requiring support, including any equipment, then it is the responsibility of the Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver it at the earliest opportunity. Similarly discharge planning is a joint exercise between the Health Board and should begin as soon as a patient is admitted.