94-year-old waiting for care package to get home

Record numbers of people who are medically fit to leave hospital are unable to.

Struggles in recruiting staff and finding places in care homes means some people can't get off hospital wards.

Health and social care teams across Scotland are working to create more room in hospitals as we go into winter when it traditionally gets busier.

Care homes are being used in Lothian to help rehabilitate people before they get home.

94-year-old Archie McQuater is staying in Elsie Inglis Nursing Home in Edinburgh, where 19 rooms are being used to help people get out of hospital.

He spent seven months in The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after one of his big toes was removed because of an infection. He’s been in the care home for two months and improving his mobility.

He looks forward to getting back to normal which includes working as a clock maker.

Archie will need some help when he gets home with things like showering but would like to be as independent as possible.

He’s increasing the amount he can walk and using dumbbells to improve his strength.

2 November 2022

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