New health figures show SNP has run out of ideas on NHS

Following a series of new statistics revealing long waits at A&E, huge waiting lists for treatment and more people stuck in hospital, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has said that the SNP has completely run out of ideas for how to tackle the crisis in our NHS.

New figures from Public Health Scotland show that:

• Only 62.1% of people attending A&E were seen within the 4 hour target in the week ending 23rd February, while 3,707 people waited over 8 hours and 1,725 waited over 12 hours.
• Nearly 2,000 people (1,969) were stuck in hospital at the end of January due to their discharge being delayed.
• At the end of December 2024, 855,267 patients were waiting for diagnostic, inpatient or outpatient appointments.
• The number of planned operations is still falling short of pre-pandemic levels, with 14.7% fewer operations planned between February 2024 and January 2025 compared to the equivalent period pre-pandemic.
• There has been an increase in the number of people waiting over eight weeks to receive a colonoscopy after receiving a positive screening for bowel cancer.

On A&E waiting times, he said:

"Last week I challenged the First Minister to do more for people like Winifred Bolland who has been traumatised by very long A&E and ambulance waits. Waiting times at A&E are still at crisis levels and staff are burning out.

“We cannot cut A&E waits if we don't fix the problems in social care, helping people leave hospital on time and boosting capacity. That's why Scottish Liberal Democrats fought for more money for social care in the budget and back a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher.”

On delayed discharge, he said:

“On the SNP’s watch, masses of people are trapped in hospital because they can’t get the care they need at home or in the community.

“The more patients are delayed leaving hospital, the longer people wait at A&E and the longer ambulances wait outside the front door.

“The Scottish Government wasted four years and £30 million attempting a bureaucratic takeover of social care that was never going to fix core problems. Now they have finally ditched their plans, it’s time to finally invest in the staff and services who need help now.”

On planned operations, he said:

“This SNP government is failing patients.

“Thousands are now being left to wait in pain, not knowing when they will receive the operation they need and fearing it may never come.

“We urgently need to address the backlog and support staff, but it’s clear this government lacks the understanding or creativity to do so.”

On NHS waiting times, he said:

“With Scottish waiting lists now lagging well behind England, we are past the point where long Scottish health secretaries can hide behind the pandemic as an excuse.

“The SNP government’s stalled progress on national treatment centres is actively making things worse.

“Ultimately, putting the NHS on a steady footing is going to require a change of government.”

On bowel screening waiting times, he said:

“These figures are worrying, especially when we know the importance of early intervention in cancer care.

“On the SNP’s watch, backlogs have become commonplace, making life tougher for staff and patients.

“My party will continue to call for measures that cut waits and ensure more cases are caught before it’s too late.”