More home places for the elderly

People who require carers will benefit from the new initiative

More care home places for vulnerable, often elderly people leaving hospital are being created in Edinburgh.

A joint initiative by NHS Lothian and Edinburgh City Council will provide funds over the next two years for patient care once they leave hospital.

The first of four homes, Marionville Court, opened last summer with the Craigmillar opening before Christmas.

A third is under construction at North Merchiston and a fourth is planned for former Eastern General Hospital site.

I welcome the additional resources and am delighted to note that delayed discharges in the city in the December census were the second lowest in the last five years with just 67 delays Paul Edie Edinburgh City Council

John Matheson, NHS Lothian's director of finance, said: "Edinburgh has a recognised issue with a shortage of care home beds.

"Working with Edinburgh City Council, we are increasing the number of care home beds and making it less likely that people will have to stay in hospital after their treatment is complete.

"As part of this joint working, NHS Lothian will be making a capital grant of £3.7m in this financial year to the council to partially support construction costs for two new 60-bed care homes at Craigmillar and North Merchiston.

"This will form part of a two year agreement which will see a further £4m transferred from NHS Lothian to the City of Edinburgh Council in 2008-9."

Paul Edie, Edinburgh City Council's health and social care convener, said: "I welcome the additional resources and am delighted to note that delayed discharges in the city in the December census were the second lowest in the last five years with just 67 delays.

"The joint plan between the council and NHS Lothian to provide additional care home capacity is clearly delivering the anticipated benefits in reducing discharge delays."