700 95-year-olds waited longer than 12 hours at A&E last year

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today set out his plans for bringing down devastating waits at A&Es, as he revealed that over 700 patients aged 95 and above waited longer than 12 hours at A&Es last year.

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request asked for a breakdown of A&E waits by age.

The data showed that between January and October 2025:

• 736 people over the age of 95 waited over 12 hours at A&E.

• 8,614 people between 85 and 94 waited over 12 hours at A&E.

• 14,281 people between 75-84 waited over 12 hours at A&E.

• 11,542 people between 65-74 waited over 12 hours at A&E.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out their manifesto plans to bring down waits at A&E by investing in social care. 

The party points out that this will enable people to be discharged from hospital on time, freeing up beds for those arriving at A&Es. 

The plans include: 

• Creating new dedicated key worker housing for carers and other eligible workers, so the housing crisis doesn’t stop people from taking up posts. 
• Rewarding care workers through national bargaining on pay and conditions, fair work and a career ladder that boosts their skills and respects their experience at every step. 
• Change to a 7-day discharge model so people aren’t kept in hospital just because it is a weekend. 
• Using the NHS App to help people to arrange welfare power of attorney, so they don’t become trapped in hospital down the line.


Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Twelve-hour waits did not exist when the SNP came to power, but they are now the norm for thousands of older patients, putting some of the country's most vulnerable people at serious risk. 

“Rapid diagnosis is essential for preventing additional complications, but waiting for so long makes that virtually impossible.

“The only way to bring down catastrophic A&E waits is to fix the broken social care system.

“Hospitals are full of people who can’t leave, despite being medically ready, because there are not enough care packages and care workers to get them home. This, in turn, means fewer beds and longer waits for new patients arriving at A&Es.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have got a realistic plan to raise the wages of care workers and attract more people into the profession, helping free up essential space in A&Es. No matter where you are, you can vote for that plan in May by backing us on your second, peach-coloured ballot paper.”