A project that allows patients to stay at home rather than in hospital is being introduced across Scotland.
Hospital at Home was piloted in North Lanarkshire where 80% of referred patients, all over 65, were able to stay at home for their treatment.
It involves a team of nurses, healthcare support workers, social care staff, GPs and consultants caring for patients, allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings and have family and friends close by.
Health Secretary Alex Neil announced the extension of Hospital at Home across the country as he set out final plans to legislate for the integration of adult health and social care.
"We know that in Scotland more people are living for longer and this brings challenges in terms of the way we plan for, organise and deliver our health and social care services, particularly for people in their later years," he said.
"No-one wants to be in hospital longer than they should be. The Hospital at Home project is just one example where a more joined-up approach between health boards and councils and between specialist and community services is benefiting patients and enabling them to live more independent lives.
"Through closer working between local authorities and health boards, we expect to see improvements in the quality of care our patients and service users receive.
"By allowing people to be treated closer to home and adopting a more community-based approach, this will help us to improve health and social care for older people in all parts of the country. These changes are needed to improve care across adult health and social care services and, in particular, care for older people."
LibDem health spokesman Jim Hume said: "This will allow more people to have the reassurance of home comforts even while in treatment. It will also alleviate demand for beds.
"Scottish Liberal Democrats are encouraged by the extension of the project and hope it is a sign of things to come from the Scottish Government."
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