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

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.”