Number of people stuck in hospital reaches another high 

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson, Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, has today slammed the SNP government for failing to tackle delayed discharge, as the number of people delayed in leaving hospital hit another high in November 2025.

Public Health Scotland figures released today show that 2,009 people were stuck in hospital at the November census- the highest number for 2025 so far.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

“We know from the recent Audit Scotland report how expensive these delays can be to the NHS. Behind these figures are people like Margaret MacGill, whose case I recently raised with the First Minister. She’s desperate to get home to her loved ones and get the care she needs in the community.

“It’s now been ten years since Shona Robison, as Health Secretary, promised to get rid of delayed discharge altogether, but it’s as bad as ever.

"If people are delayed in leaving hospital, waits in A&E departments ramp up and ambulances stack up outside.

"Our health and social care services deserve better than this. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats have a realistic plan to fix the crisis. We would create a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers, £2 higher than the national minimum wage, to tackle the chronic staff shortages in care and make social care a profession of choice again.”