Hospitals branded 'death traps' after over 250,000 falls recorded
Hospitals have been branded as 'death traps for the frail" after over 250,000 falls were recorded.
Nine out of fourteen health boards have seen an increase in fall as the SNP Government were urged to make the health service safer.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'Falls can be lifechanging for older and more vulnerable patients — these figures should be a warning of how easily Scotland's crumbling hospitals can become a deathtrap for the frail.
"The SNP must act now to ensure that patients don't come to unnecessary harm because of the condition of the estate or overcrowding.
According to the figure s, there were at least 266,573 patient falls between 2019 and 2024.
When the early months of 2025 are included, the number rises to 282,385.
In NHS Borders, the number of recorded falls jumped by 29% and by 75% in Orkney.
Other boards witnessing a rise over a five year period were Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Forth Valley and Highland.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recorded a 7% increase while the figure in Lanarkshire was 6%.
Labour say an NHS staffing crisis and hospital over-crowding have made facilities more unsafe.
The SNP Government has also frozen plans to build new hospitals due to funding pressures.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Patient safety is paramount and Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring all health and care is safe, effective and patient-centred.
'In 2025-26, NHS Boards received increased investment in their baseline funding, bringing total investment to over £16.2 billion.
'And the Scottish Government's Budget is providing more than £1 billion in capital investment, with £140 million additional funding targeted at high risk areas of maintenance and repair of the existing estate, equipment and digital replacement.
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