Recent figures reveal more than 2,000 bed days are being lost in hospitals in NHS Ayrshire and Arran because of bed blocking every month, with 2,216 bed days being lost due to bed blocking.

Local MSP Jamie Greene has highlighted the difficulties this provides in ensuring the availability of care for patients and called on the Scottish Government to more to tackle this problem.

These figures follow a difficult January when over 3,000 beds were lost. Jamie Greene MSP said: “Shona Robison gave a commitment that delayed discharge would be ended by the close of 2015.

“It’s unfortunate to see that she has not been able to deliver on that promise to the Scottish People.

“NHS Ayrshire and Arran needs a much clearer focus from Nicola Sturgeon and her government in Edinburgh.

“It’s taken the back seat to issue such an independence for far too long and we are now seeing the impact of local folk.”

The Tory MSP added: “Bed blocking and delayed discharge severely undermine the availability of treatment in our hospitals and can run up a backlog of patients who need treatment.

“This is an issue that urgently needs addressing and deserves the full attention of the Scottish Government.”