Cole-Hamilton comments on record NHS waiting lists, social care delays and worsening A&E waits

Responding to official statistics showing a record 879,215 patients are now on outpatient, inpatient or diagnostic waiting lists, including thousands waiting for years, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented:

"Hundreds of thousands of people are waiting in pain and uncertainty. People can't get on in life and it's impacting the economy.

"Waiting lists in Scotland are now far worse than those in England, the rollout of national treatment centres has stalled, and repeated SNP promises to speed up treatment have fallen flat.

"Since June 2024, the number of people waiting over two years for outpatient appointments has more than trebled. Some waits are even longer still.

"After almost two decades in charge, the SNP have proved to be bad for your health. Scotland deserves better.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats are bursting with fresh ideas to get our NHS back on its feet and get everyone the care they need in good time. At next May’s election, everyone can vote for those plans by backing my party on the peach regional ballot paper.”

Responding to new Public Health Scotland figures showing that there are 10,702 people currently waiting on social care assessments and care at home packages, the highest figure recorded so far this year, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Under the SNP, more and more people are stuck in hospital, prevented from getting on with their lives.

“You can’t fix the NHS unless you fix care because the more patients are delayed in hospital, the longer people wait at A&E and the longer ambulances wait outside the front door.

“Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats are focused on fixing care. Just look at the millions more we secured for care in our budget negotiations. This money can start unpicking years of damage caused by the SNP, but what the care sector really needs is a change of government."

Responding to new figures showing only 63.5% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 17th August, while 3,399 people waited over 8 hours and 1,363 waited over 12 hours, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

"Since the A&E target was last met, there has been a merry-go-round of four SNP health secretaries, but not a single one has ever made a dent. The result is departments in crisis and staff burning out.

"Too many people are stuck unable to leave hospital because they can't get the care package they need to leave safely.

"We cannot fix these A&E waits without fixing the problems in social care to create the capacity needed to get people seen on time. That's why Scottish Liberal Democrats fought for more money for social care in the budget and back a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.”