Cole-Hamilton responds to life expectancy falling for third year in a row

Responding to new figures from a National Records of Scotland report which show that life expectancy in Scotland has fallen for the third year in a row, with the average life expectancy now 76.5 years for men and 80.7 years for women, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:    

“This is a truly sorry reflection of our nation's health.  

“The Scottish Government have made the situation no easier in their mishandling of public health emergencies. That can be seen in decisions to send Covid positive patients into care homes during the pandemic, or a failure to get to grips with Scotland’s mental health crisis or choosing to slash drug and alcohol services when deaths were already rising.  

“As we look ahead to a difficult winter, ministers must be absolutely focussed on supporting and protecting the wellbeing of the people they are here to serve.”