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A general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward at Ealing Hospital in London
SCOTTISH Labour has accused the SNP of “betraying vulnerable Scots” on bed-blocking after it was revealed that more than 500 people a year died while waiting to get out of hospital.
Despite the SNP Scottish government pledging to end bed blocking back in 2015, latest Public Health Scotland figures show that in February patients across the country spent a total of 55,546 days in hospital despite having been assessed as medically ready to leave.
Lack of social care packages remains the number one cause of the delays that, according to Audit Scotland, cost the NHS £440 million in 2024/25 alone.
Data released to Labour under freedom of information, however, shows the cost is more than financial, with 1,579 people dying in hospital while they waited to be discharged.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Behind these figures are Scots who spent their last days stuck in hospital wards rather than at home surrounded by friends and family.
“The SNP’s pledge to end bed blocking lies in tatters along with so many other broken promises.
“This is a damning sign of the SNP’s neglect of health and social care, which has failed patients and piled pressure on hospitals.
“Scotland needs change. Scottish Labour will create an additional 1,000 care at home packages and 300 step down beds, easing pressure on our hospitals and giving people the dignity of getting home to their family and friends.
“On May 7, Scotland can vote for change and end the SNP’s neglect of the services we all rely on.
“Together we can get rid of this failing SNP government and elect a Scottish Labour government that will get the basics right.”
SNP candidate for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, Clare Haughey, said: “Waiting times are down, operation numbers up, we have more GPs and, unlike in Labour-run England, we haven’t lost a single day to strikes in our NHS - the SNP has a plan for our NHS and it’s working.
“Our social care system needs to work better for everyone and under John Swinney’s strong leadership we will continue to drive improvements across health and social care.”
