1,308 elderly patients waiting more than 12 hours at A&E in Greater Glasgow and Clyde

1,308 elderly patients waiting more than 12 hours at A&E in Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Renfrewshire Grant Toghill has today said that the SNP is failing some of our most vulnerable patients after research by the Scottish Liberal Democrats found that 1,308 people aged over 85 waited more than 12 hours at A&E departments across Greater Glasgow and Clyde last year.

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request to Public Health Scotland revealed that in 2024:

• 1,308 people aged over 85 waited more than 12 hours at A&E in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
• These long waits affected 8.7% of all over 85s who attended A&E in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Grant Toghill said:

“It is appalling that so many older patients are waiting what must feel like an eternity in A&E in Renfrewshire and the rest of the region. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is so important for ensuring that additional complications don't arise.

“Under the SNP Government, our health service is teetering on the brink. Their NHS Recovery Plan has completely failed patients and staff in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and they deserve so much better. Instead of looking at closing wards at the Royal Alexandria Hospital, they need to be looking improving capacity.

“Addressing the crisis also requires improving access to community care like GPs and dentists, so that fewer people in Renfrewshire end up in A&E in the first place. Scottish Liberal Democrats also want a new UK-wide minimum wage for care workers that is £2 higher; this would get people the social care they need, helping them leave hospital on time and cutting excessive waits in emergency departments.”