Cole-Hamilton: SNP have ripped up promises on delayed discharges

Responding to new Public Health Scotland figures showing nearly 2,000 people (1,948) were stuck in hospital at the July census due to their discharge being delayed, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“The SNP have ripped up their ten-year old promise that no one who was fit to leave hospital would be left stuck there.

“By failing to provide the care people need at home or in the community, the SNP are keeping 2,000 patients waiting in hospital beds. That creates a shortage of beds for incoming patients and ramps up waits in emergency departments.

"Our health and social care service deserves better than this. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats have a realistic plan to get things done: create a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers, £2 higher than the national minimum wage, to tackle the chronic staff shortages in care and make social care a profession of choice.”