More than 12,000 patients over the age of 85 were forced to wait in Accident & Emergency (A&E) for more than 12 hours last year, according to figures released by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The data, obtained through a freedom of information request, reveals alarming statistics about the treatment of Scotland's elderly population, particularly during emergency situations.
Approximately 20% of individuals aged over 85 who attended emergency departments were kept waiting for more than half a day. Specifically, 12,438 patients from this age group experienced wait times exceeding 12 hours. Regions such as NHS Forth Valley and NHS Ayrshire and Arran reported even graver figures, with over one third (34%) of older adults waiting longer than 12 hours. NHS Lothian isn't far behind, reporting 32% of such extended waits.
During First Minister’s Questions held last Thursday, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton highlighted the plight of 87-year-old Winifred, who suffered from significant delays following her hip injury. "Winifred was an active 87-year-old until she broke her hip. Her family say they are ‘aghast’ at what happened next," Cole-Hamilton stated.
Winifred faced not just the initial ordeal of waiting 12 hours at A&E after her fall but also endured what has been labeled as an unsafe discharge. Following her discharge, she then had to wait nine hours for ambulance transport back to the hospital, culminating another wait of 12 hours once again at A&E. "Winifred is not alone," said Cole-Hamilton, who continued to express grave concern over the skyrocketing wait times since the SNP's rise to power.
John Swinney, the First Minister, responded apologetically, stating he was sorry for the distress inflicted on Winifred and her family, acknowledging the overwhelming pressures facing the health service. “The health service faces extraordinary pressures as consequence of the demand for assistance,” Swinney remarked, before asking if Cole-Hamilton could provide the moment of Winifred's incident for him to respond directly with more detailed information.
While Swinney did express regret, he also assured the Parliament about the latest data indicating 12-hour waits are falling. He stated, “What I can assure Mr. Cole-Hamilton about is, as I have recounted to Parliament over the winter period, we have had extraordinary pressures on our healthcare system as a consequence of flu.”
Further, it appears attention on wait times is gaining traction outside of political circles. New research indicates the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours has exponentially grown since 2011, with nearly 100 times the number of patients waiting extended periods, rising from just 784 individuals to 76,346 by late 2024, as cited by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
These concerning statistics accentuate the growing frustration among political leaders and the general public alike. Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay demanded government accountability, pressuring for the involvement of outside business leaders to address inefficiencies plaguing the public sector. Findlay criticized what he viewed as wasteful spending and ineffective strategies. "[The First Minister] has no respect for public finances—just look at his dismal record," he stated. Findlay emphasized the need for cuts to non-critical expenditures to improve frontline services.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar joined the conversation, accusing the government of betraying young working-class Scots, referencing escalated educational attainment gaps reported over recent years. Sarwar claimed, “Shamefully, outcomes for young, working-class Scots are getting worse compared to those from wealthier backgrounds.” He urged Swinney to reflect on these alarming figures as well.
This situation isn’t merely focused on incident accounts; the data exudes systemic risks and challenges within Scotland's healthcare framework. With runtime guidelines stating 95% of patients should be treated within four hours, the growing numbers of elderly individuals waiting for significant periods amplify urgency among constituents and political leaders for immediate reforms.
Swinney acknowledged the validity of the concerns and claimed, “I accept there is more to be done. But important and substantial progress is being made on closing the attainment gap and it is good for children and young people in our country.” Though he presented progress made, the critiques continue to linger as public scrutiny intensifies.
The significant number of elderly patients waiting extended periods in A&E serves not only as data but as poignant real-life stories of individuals like Winifred, challenging the perception of adequate care within Scotland's healthcare system. With rising numbers, community voices are adamant about the immediate changes needed to restore confidence, trust, and efficiency within emergency care services.