The SNP stands accused of “government failure of the highest order” as figures reveal eight Scots with learning disabilities have languished in hospital for over six years amid record levels of delayed discharge.

Public Health Scotland (PHS) data today revealed that at the end of September, 1,545 people with learning disabilities were on local dynamic support registers, a system designed to help them avoid long stays in hospital or placements far from family.

Of those, 486 were classed as “urgent” and 85 — despite being assessed as medically fit to leave — remained stuck in hospital for want of a suitable community care package being put in place.

Of those, 21 had waited between two and five years for such a package, while eight had waited in hospital for a staggering six years or more. 

The revelations come as PHS figures show that general delayed discharge from hospital amounted to 2,029 beds in October, up from 1,968 a month earlier and the highest since the present guidelines were introduced in 2016. 

Patients fit enough to be discharged spent a shocking 62,914 days in Scottish hospitals in October, up 11 per cent on a year earlier, as health and social care partnerships (comprising councils and NHS) struggle after years of cuts and ongoing labour shortages to meet demand for social care packages.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “That some Scots are spending more than half a decade stuck in hospital as a delayed discharge is a government failure of the highest order.

“No-one should be forced to spend years waiting for a care package — the SNP government must urgently investigate the timeline of events that has led to these shocking figures.

“They promised that people with complex learning disabilities would be cared for in the community closer to home, but they have singularly failed to meet their own targets.

“This is yet another SNP policy sitting on the shelf gathering dust.”

SNP Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: “It is completely unacceptable that people are spending time in hospitals or other care settings when they are medically fit for discharge.

“We are working closely with health boards and health and social care partnerships to help with local planning and ensure patients are assessed and discharged with the appropriate care package as quickly as possible.”