Alex Cole-Hamilton reacts to NHS Grampian performance issues

Record high levels of people stuck in hospital

Responding to new Public Health Scotland figures which showed 2,009 people were stuck in hospital in August due to their discharge being delayed, the highest number of people delayed since the guidelines were updated in 2016, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Scotland’s care services are in crisis and the fault lies squarely at the door of this SNP Government. Being stuck in hospital unnecessarily fails patients, contributes to record-breaking waits in A&E and leads to dangerous ambulance delays.

“It couldn’t be clearer that the SNP’s planned ministerial takeover of social care, that doesn’t have the support of unions or council leaders, should be scrapped immediately.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats believe the money earmarked for this billion-pound bureaucracy should be spent on frontline services and staff struggling right now.  Only we have a plan to fix the crisis in social care, relieving pressure on the NHS through a minimum wage for care 

Additional Information:

You can find the full delayed discharge figures here

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

August A&E waiting times the worst on record for the month

Responding to new figures showing only 69.4% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in August 2024, the worst on record for the month of August, while 13,303 people waited over 8 hours and 5,407 waited over 12 hours, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

"The summer usually sees shorter waiting times at A&E but this year we saw the worst ever waiting times for the month of August.

"Under the SNP the NHS is teetering on the brink, staff are overwhelmed, and thousands are waiting far too long to be seen.

"As we are now moving quickly towards the winter months we have to see urgent action from the SNP now to prevent a crisis in just a few months time.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats would overhaul the SNP’s failed NHS Recovery Plan, get you fast access to GPs and help people leave hospital on time through a new minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher."

Additional Information: 

Latest A&E stats can be found here