Cole-Hamilton: Fix care to fix the NHS

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today called on the Scottish Government to fix care services as part of a bid to fix the NHS. His call comes as a host of statistics released today detail issues in A&E, mental health services, hospital discharge, operating theatres and care.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“So many of the problems in our NHS come from the SNP’s failure to fix care services. When people can’t get a care package they’re trapped in hospital. When people are trapped in hospital, other patients cannot get treatment. A&E and ambulances start to overflow.

“There is no way to fix the NHS without fixing care. That’s why we want to introduce a new higher minimum wage for all carers across the UK, relieving pressure on our hospitals.

“Then there needs to be considerable investment in diagnostic tests, staffing and preventative care to reduce the burden on both NHS and care services.”

On A&E performance where just 67.2% of type 1 attendances were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours, he said:

“I’ve spoken with people who would normally go to an A&E but say that unless they might lose a finger, they’re just not bothering.

“The SNP need to invest in care services to get people out of hospital and free up space in A&E departments.”

At the April 2025 census, there were 1,868 people facing a delay to their discharge from hospital, he said:

“It's unacceptable that a lack of care at home or in the community is keeping so many people stuck in hospital.

“Staff and services have been failed by a government that has wasted four years and £30 million on a top-down takeover of social care instead of investing in frontline services.

“The SNP have spent the last eighteen years proving they can’t deliver. That’s why we need a change of government.”

On new mental health stats showing 4,674 children and young people and 24,775 adults were waiting for treatment at the quarter ending March 2025, with 245 children and young people and 2,437 adults waiting more than a year to start treatment, he said:

“The SNP Government is letting down thousands of people who are being forced to wait over a year to start treatment. These waits must feel like an age.

“Scotland needs world class mental health services. Liberal Democrats would increase the tax paid by the social media giants who cause so much of the problem – a move that could help fund more mental health support in schools, get more professionals close to where you live, and ramp up the training of new staff and mental health first aiders.”

Responding to the Health and Care Survey showing 43% of people surveyed that reported needing help or support said they had unmet support needs and disabled adults were more likely to report unmet needs, he said:

“The human toll of this neglect is huge. Not only would it be the compassionate choice to help those who need it, it would be the economically sensible one too as there are many who would like to work with the right support and adaptations. The SNP need to invest in care services.”

On more than half a million operations being lost compared to pre-pandemic activity levels, he said:

“The SNP have completely failed to get our health service back on its feet following the pandemic.

“John Swinney can promise the earth for our NHS all he likes, but after 18 years of broken promises, no one believes him.

"Staff and patients need a change of government."