Boarding - FOI Response Register

It is my understanding that your health board holds data on the number of patients who are admitted to, or transferred to, another ward/speciality than that which is appropriate -- this is commonly referred to as "boarding out" and defined as "a patient who occupies a borrowed bed" (see Public Health Scotland definition here). https://publichealthscotland.scot/resources-and-tools/health-intelligence-and-data-management/national-data-catalogue/data-dictionary/search-the-data-dictionary/boarding/ As such, can I request the following information for each financial year from 2019/20 to 2024/25 (most recent):

1. The number of maternity ward/unit patients boarding/occupying a borrowed bed.

In the entire period 1st April 2019 to 31st December 2024 there were two patients who were boarded into a ward not specifically allocated as maternity. One in 2020/21 and one in 2022/23.

2. The number of maternity ward/unit patients boarding/out occupying a borrowed bed from another hospital.

NHS Shetland has a single hospital; perforce we do not board patients from another Shetland hospital.

3. The number of maternity ward/unit patients boarding/out occupying a borrowed bed from another health board.

In accordance with FOISA s 17(1), NHS Shetland confirms that it does not hold the information requested. As NHS Shetland Maternity patients frequently attend hospital on the mainland for clinical reasons, principally Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. A clinician would need to check each and every case file to understand if a patient attendance on the mainland was for clinical reasons or because of boarding.