Cole-Hamilton: Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats can save our NHS

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has today said that only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to save our NHS as new figures revealed that number of people stuck in hospital is the second worst on record, with people waiting long hours to be seen at A&E and the number of operations still down on pre-pandemic levels.

Figures published today by Public Health Scotland show that:

• The were 1,955 people stuck in hospital in May 2024 - the second worst situation on record;
• Since August 2017, the Scottish Government has only met its 4-hour A&E waiting time target on three occasions. These three months were all during the height of the Covid pandemic, when people were less likely to attend hospital;
• There were 14.6% fewer operations planned in May 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“Under the SNP, our NHS is teetering on the brink. Staff are overwhelmed and patients are being left to suffer.

“The SNP can’t get the basics right. They are totally out of ideas and have got to go.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will address the problems at both the front door and the back door of the NHS. We will get everyone fast access to community services, including GPs and dentists, so fewer people need to go to hospital in the first place.

“Only we have a plan to fix the crisis in social care, enabling people to leave hospital and relieving pressure on the NHS through a minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.

“Every vote for the Liberal Democrats this Thursday is a vote to fix care and save the NHS.”