SNP ‘obliterated’ delayed discharge promise say Lib Dems as figures rise

The SNP has “obliterated” its promise to end delayed discharge, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have said, as new figures show a record high.

Statistics from Public Health Scotland show that at the January 2026 census, there were 2,049 people delayed from hospital discharge.

This is an increase from December 2025, where 1,867 people were delayed.

It is also an increase from November 2025 which saw 2,009 people delayed and October 2025 which saw 1,962 people delayed.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have said the figures show that the SNP has “obliterated” its promise to end delayed discharge.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The SNP have obliterated their decade-old promise to end delayed discharge.

“Their repeated failure to provide enough care at home or in the community is leaving record high numbers of people stuck in hospital.

“Those delays mean there are fewer beds available to receive new patients in A&Es, ramping up waiting times and causing endless misery.

“Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats will invest in care to ensure there are more care workers and care packages to get people home in time and free up vital space in A&E.”

The average number of beds occupied per day due to people delayed in hospital was 1,973 in January 2026.

The figures are higher than the previous two months with 1,967 in December 2025 and 1,972 in November 2025.

However, they are less than October 2025 which showed an average of 1,981 beds occupied per day.

The average length of delay for people delayed at the January 2026 census was 23 days. This is less than as at the census point in December 2025 of 28 days, November 2025 of 27 days and October 2025 of 29 days.

In January 2026, there were 61,150 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed. Compared to the previous year, there were 60,872 delated days in January 2025.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ninety-seven per cent of all hospital discharges happen without delay – our plan to reduce delayed discharge is backed by £220 million which is helping boards to tackle waiting list backlogs, improve capacity and remove blockages keeping some patients in hospital longer than they need to be.

“This includes up to £20 million of winter funding this year to bolster social care capacity and address pressure at the front door of A&E.

“While we have seen reductions in delayed discharge in some councils in recent months, we are not seeing this across the whole of the country and we are determined to do more.

“We are working closely with all health boards and local authorities to address variations in performance and drive forward improvements.”