Harley: Over 3 hour waits for patients phoning NHS 111

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Adam Harley MSP has today said that struggling to access healthcare has become “a universal experience” for people across the country, as he highlighted multi-hour waits for patients phoning NHS Scotland’s 111 service.

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request to NHS Scotland’s 111 service revealed that:

• In 2025/26, the longest wait before a call was answered was 3 hours and 39 minutes, which was in October 2025.
• Other long waits included 3 hours 25 minutes in November 2025, 2 hours 43 minutes in April 2025 and 2 hours 39 minutes in February 2026.
• Between January and July 2026, 16% of calls took more than 60 minutes to be answered.
• Between the first quarter of 2024/25 and the first quarter of 2026/27, 625,704 calls were discontinued- this represented 17% of all calls.

Adam Harley said:

“People feel utterly helpless if they are left waiting for hours on the other end of a phone line.

“Whether it’s phoning NHS 111, calling an ambulance or trying to get seen at A&E, the struggle to access healthcare is a universal experience for people across Scotland.

“None of this is the fault of staff, who are trying their very best with the resources they have. In the face of such huge demand for care, they need to be supported.

“It’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats would increase capacity across our NHS, resolve staffing issues with a rolling 10-year NHS Workforce Plan, and increase the efficiency of IT systems to help cut waits.

“This is the kind of action that will deliver for patients and staff, and I will be using my voice in parliament to make that case to the government.”