Fife’s bed-blocking crisis will be solved by the end of next month, MSPs have been told.
Public health minister Shona Robison has assured the region’s politicians over the continuing problems with care packages not being in place for patients leaving hospital.
Ms Robison met Fife Council leader Peter Grant and Professor Jim McGoldrick, chairman of NHS Fife, this week to get an update on the situation.
She told MSPs at a briefing on Thursday that she had obtained a pledge from both organisations that they would work together to solve the emergency.
The Courier understands she was also told that 45 people waiting for care packages have now been allocated the necessary resources and will be discharged in the coming days, and that the remaining affected patients will be dealt with by the end of February.
NHS Fife’s operational division committee chairman Dave Stewart last week revealed staff were run ragged, operations cancelled and infection control procedures compromised due to the lack of care packages.
He blamed the council, which is run by the SNP and the Lib Dems, for “failing in its responsibility” to provide the service sufficiently.
The disclosures provoked outrage at Holyrood.
But after the much-publicised spat between the organisations, they later issued a joint statement reaffirming their willingness to work together to solve the problems facing them.
Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick said she was glad that the government was on top of the situation.
The SNP MSP said, “It is crucial they continue the work because they have a joint responsibility to have care packages in place.
“I hope the lesson has been learned by both organisations, as the people of Fife expect it now and in future.”
Fife social work services have since 2006 seen referrals to them of older people rise 66% and referrals for people in hospital rise 46%.
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