The number of patients using Hospital at Home in Scotland rose by almost a quarter last year as funding allocations for NHS boards were announced.

The NHS revealed that a total of 13 local healthcare providers have been allocated a share of £3.6 million for Hospital at Home for older people to help ease pressure on frontline acute services.

Hospital at Home offers a safe alternative to admission to an acute hospital, with almost 15,000 older patients using the service in 2023/24 and this funding is hoped to support the continuation and development of existing programmes.

NHS Borders has been allocated £600,000, with a further 12 healthcare partners also receiving a share of the allocation.

Confirmation of the awards comes as a new report from Healthcare Improvement Scotland highlights the impact that the Hospital at Home service for older people has had this year.

The findings show that over 14,000 patients used Hospital at Home in 2023, up by 3,00 from the previous year.

As well as this, the total bed numbers increased by almost 60 per cent, ahead of the Scottish government’s 50 per cent target.

Belinda Robertson, associate director of improvement, healthcare improvement in Scotland, said: “We know that patients benefit from receiving safe, patient-centred care in the comfort of their own home whilst continuing to benefit from the support they are used to from families, friends and carers."

She said that four new services for people living in and around Dumfries, Galashiels, Lerwick and Oban have been established in the last year.

Robertson added: “We would like to commend the Hospital at Home services for the fantastic work they’ve done to establish and grow their services. In the year ahead, we look forward to continuing to support NHS boards and Partnerships to further develop the services they provide, and to share learning across all Hospital at Home services.”