Last week a harrowing report by the Royal College of Nursing revealed the state of our NHS under the SNP. Nurses described patients dying in hospital corridors and having to deliver care in offices, cupboards and shower rooms.
One of the reasons the SNP is failing to deliver the standard of care patients and staff expect is because it has also failed to tackle delayed discharge, commonly referred to as bed blocking.
Delayed discharge is when a patient is cleared to go home, but is stranded in hospital, meaning a bed is occupied and further putting their health and wellbeing at risk.
Just one example of this is Yvonne, 68, who suffers with MS and other long term illnesses. She was admitted to hospital in May 2024 for what was expected to be a short stay. At the time, she had a council care package in place, but whilst in hospital she developed pressure sores and it expired during her stay.
In September, Yvonne was declared fit to go home, but the council struggled to find her a new care package and it ended up being another two months before Yvonne was finally able to return home. By then, Yvonne was so frustrated that she had taken to wearing t-shirts saying ‘Can I Go Home Now?’ and ‘Bed Blocker’.
Yvonne said: “I was declared medically fit to go home in September but was left in a state of limbo until a care package was finally put in place two months after I could have been at home. I appreciate the pressure an elderly population places on the NHS but it seems wrong for me to be occupying a hospital bed which could have been used by someone else needing medical care when I should have been at homer”
The situation was also challenging for Yvonne’s husband Lennie, who visited the hospital twice a day for six months. Lennie, who used to work in a fast moving business, could not understand why it was easier for his wife to occupy an expensive bed in a hospital rather than returning home with a care package costing significantly less.
Just as the SNP pledged to eradicate delayed discharge, it promised to improve social care. But its discredited National Care Service Bill centralised power and cost millions without paying for a single extra carer.
No one chooses to spend six months in hospital — yet Yvonne is sadly far from alone. The SNP cannot resolve the crisis in hospitals without facing up to the challenge in social care. But John Swinney has had this opportunity for nearly 18 years but he hasn’t done it yet. In fact, on his watch things have got worse.
Since John Swinney became First Minister over 100,000 Scots have waited over eight hours to be seen in A&E – with almost 50,000 waiting half a day for vital treatment. At the same time, waiting lists have soared and the number of operations has fallen.
This is on John Swinney but it is clear he and the SNP have no vision for our NHS or our country. It’s time for a new direction to save our NHS, to clear the backlogs, make sure it is there when you or a loved one need it and so that it is fit for the future.
MIDDLE EAST CEASEFIRE
Like me, many of you will have been heartbroken by ongoing the conflict in the Middle East and the huge loss of life. The announcement of an agreement on a long overdue ceasefire deal is welcome, with the end of the bloodshed and the release of the hostages who have been held captive for 470 days.
There must now be an urgent humanitarian and rebuilding effort in Gaza where the devastation has meant 46,000 lives lost including countless children and many journalists brave enough to report from the frontline, almost 2 million people have lost their homes, vital infrastructure like schools and hospitals destroyed and the spread of disease and hunger.
It is also critical and urgent that we begin a meaningful process for a long-term and lasting peace. That means an end to violence from all sides, an end to the illegal occupation, an end to illegal settlement expansion and the recognition and respect of international law.
This will require good faith actors on all sides and international co-operation. Ultimately, every life must be treated as equal and the people of Palestine and Israel must be able to live with the security, dignity and freedom they deserve.
CLEAN ENERGY
On Friday I joined academics, business leaders and innovators in Glasgow to discuss how we ensure all of Scotland benefits from the clean energy revolution.
That’s why a Scottish Government I lead will use its convening power to bring business, the state, academics and workers together to make Scotland a world leader in clean energy.
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