NHS Western Isles leads Scotland in Hospital at Home care

NHS Western Isles has emerged as the top-performing Health Board in Scotland for Hospital at Home services, according to provisional new figures published by Public Health Scotland.

The national Hospital at Home management information, covering the period from November 2025 to January 2026, shows that NHS Western Isles recorded the highest rate of patients accepted into and discharged from Hospital at Home services per head of population of any NHS board in Scotland.

During this period, which covers the first quarterly summary of activity across Hospital at Home (and related alternative admission services),146 patients were accepted into Hospital at Home services in the Western Isles, with 156 patients discharged. When adjusted for population size, this equates to 2,244 patients accepted per 100,000 population and 2,398 discharged per 100,000. By comparison, the national averages were 518 accepted and 469 discharged per 100,000 population.

Our dedicated Hospital at Home service provides hospital‑level clinical care to suitable patients in their own homes, helping people receive treatment closer to family and community while avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions.

Despite serving a small, island population, NHS Western Isles performed well ahead of larger mainland boards on a population‑adjusted basis, reflecting the strength and maturity of local community‑based models of care.

While the data are classed as provisional management information, Public Health Scotland describes the results as encouraging and highlights the important role Hospital at Home services play in supporting hospital flow and improving patient outcomes.

Gordon Jamieson, Chief Executive of NHS Western Isles, said: “NHS Western Isles has achieved significantly above national average consistently since the service was established in 2020. These latest figures are a real credit to our staff and partners who work together every day to deliver high‑quality, compassionate care closer to home.

“Hospital at Home is particularly important in the Western Isles, where distance and geography can make hospital admission more challenging for patients and families. Being able to safely provide hospital‑level care in people’s own homes helps improve patient experience while supporting the flow of care across our services.

“While this is provisional national data, it clearly shows the impact of our community‑based teams and the commitment they show to delivering innovative models of care for island communities.”

NHS Western Isles will continue to work closely with national partners to further develop Hospital at Home services, supporting more people to receive safe, effective care closer to home.