More than 1,500 Scots died awaiting hospital discharge, figures show

Figures released under freedom of information laws have revealed the stark cost of delayed hospital discharge.

More than 1,500 people have died while waiting to get out of hospital in the past three years, according to data obtained by Scottish Labour. Freedom of information requests by the party show 1,579 people died between 2022 and 2025 while waiting to be discharged.

Some 541 died while delayed in 2022/23, 522 in 2023/24 and 516 in 2024/25. Delayed discharge, or bed blocking, happens when a patient is deemed medically fit to leave hospital but is unable due to inadequate arrangements in the community, such as a lack of social care.

Scottish Labour said despite the SNP promising to end delayed discharge in 2025, data from Public Health Scotland shows bed blocking rose – with 55,547 days spent in hospital in February by people whose discharge was delayed, with nearly 2,000 beds on average occupied by people ready to leave that month. According to Audit Scotland, delayed discharge cost the NHS £440 million in 2024/25.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Behind these figures are Scots who spent their last days stuck in hospital wards rather than at home surrounded by friends and family. The SNP’s pledge to end bed blocking lies in tatters, along with so many other broken promises.

“This is a damning sign of the SNP’s neglect of health and social care, which has failed patients and piled pressure on hospitals. Scotland needs change and only Scottish Labour can deliver it.”

Mr Sarwar pledged to create an additional 1,000 care at home packages and 300 step-down beds, should his party take power at Holyrood next month. He said Labour would ease the pressure on hospitals and give people “the dignity of getting home to their family and friends”.

He added: “On May 7, Scotland can vote for change and end the SNP’s neglect of the services we all rely on. Together we can get rid of this failing SNP Government and elect a Scottish Labour government that will get the basics right.”

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