More than 1,700 people stuck in hospital

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Health Secretary to finally take action on the stubbornly high number of delayed hospital discharges as new Public Health Scotland figures show there are still more than 1,700 people waiting in hospitals.

In April 2023, the average number of beds occupied per day in hospital was 1,711. The number of days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed was 51,327.

In 2015, the SNP Government promised to “eradicate delayed discharges from the system” within a year.  

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:    

“Yet again, these figures are stubbornly high but there is absolutely no sign of any ministerial action to bring down delays.

“Ignoring the problem and waiting five years for the wrong solution in the form of an ill-fated ministerial takeover of social care just won’t cut it. The Health Secretary must come to the table now with proper investment plans for social care services and staff.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would support staff today by setting national standards and entitlements for users to drive up the quality of care and move quickly to reward staff with better pay, conditions and career progression through powerful national bargaining.”