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MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says patients in Scottish hospitals are feeling trapped due to bed-blocking

© Allan MilliganAlex Cole-Hamilton MSP of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

PATIENTS are waiting up to 18 months to leave hospital after being found medically fit to go home, new figures have revealed.

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton branded the extent of so-called bed-blocking “absurd.”

There are currently patients waiting 618 days in the Borders and 274 days in Grampian, according to data gathered by the party.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “We know that when patients are trapped in hospital, their condition is more likely to worsen and opportunities to rebuild their lives are lost.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Delayed discharges continue to decrease across Scotland and last year there was a 7% reduction in the number of days lost to delayed releases.”