Scottish Labour candidate Donald MacKinnon has accused the Scottish Government of “dangerous neglect” of social care services as high levels of delayed discharge in the Western Isles are revealed.
Latest figures show that in January 2025, NHS Western Isles lost a staggering 652 bed days to delayed discharge.
On average, 21 beds a day were occupied by people who were ready to leave hospital said Mr MacKinnon.
The Western Isles currently has the highest level of delayed discharge in Scotland per head of population due to a lack of staff available to provide care at home packages in addition to a shortage of care home places it was reported to a recent meeting of the isles’ health board.
Exacerbating the issue locally is the forthcoming closure of the 38-bed Blàr Buidhe
care home in Stornoway.
In the last decade, almost £1.5 billion of NHS funding has been wasted on delayed discharge across Scotland.
As well as causing suffering for patients stuck in hospital needlessly, delayed discharge also piles pressure on hospitals and costs the NHS millions of pounds every year added Mr MacKinnon.
Donald MacKinnon - who has been selected by Labour to contest the Western Isles seat
at the 2026 Scotland Parliament election - said “Social care services in Na h-Eileanan
an Iar are stretched to breaking point after years of SNP mismanagement and it has
led to “shocking levels” of delayed discharge.
“This has caused misery for the patients stuck in hospital needlessly while waiting for care packages, and piled pressure on NHS Western Isles.
“It’s been ten years since the SNP pledged to eradicate delayed discharge but things have gone in the wrong direction.
“A Scottish Labour government will work to fix the social care crisis across Scotland and free up hospital beds by buying up space in care homes and creating more care packages so vulnerable Scots get the support they need.
“This will help to support social care services and ease the dangerous pressure on NHS Western Isles.
“However, the SNP cannot continue to inflict damage on our islands in the meantime – the SNP government must act with urgency to address this crisis.”
Western Isles Labour candidate slams Scottish Government over high hospital delayed discharge figures
19 March 2025
