Delayed hospital discharge is a significant challenge across the whole of the UK. Looking at Scotland specifically, recent reports from Scottish Labour have confirmed that the cost of delayed discharge in Scottish hospitals has risen to more than £1.2 billion over the last decade. Data from Scottish health boards revealed there was an average of 650,000 bed days associated with delayed discharge in 2023. With some health boards seeing over 100% increase in bed days from 2022 – 2023.  A bed day represents more than just a duration of time in a hospital bed; it involves a complex interplay of resources and services dedicated to patient care, even when they…