Quarter of a million NHS Scotland patient falls in 5 years

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Labour's call comes as there were at least 266,573 patient falls between 2019 and 2024, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by the party.
When incidents in 2025 were included, this number rose to 282,385.
With nine out of 14 health boards reporting an increase, the figures show that patients are becoming more likely to fall.
Patient falls rose 75 per cent in NHS Orkney - from 114 incidents in 2019 to 200 in 2024 - and in hospitals overseen by NHS Dumfries they rose by a third.
The highest amount of falls took place in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with 71,870 incidents recorded between 2019 and 2025.
The least amount of falls were recorded in NHS Shetland where 466 incidents took place over the same period of time.
Standard hospital guidance recommends avoiding clutter, individual risk assessments and ensuring patients at risk of falling should have a clear route to a toilet.
Just under a quarter of the [[NHS Scotland]] estate was built in the 1960s and 1970s and last year the SNP froze plans to build new hospitals, treatment centres and surgeries, citing budgetary pressures.
It is estimated it would cost around £8.5bn to replace these buildings.
The figures also come amidst a backdrop of long waits for care in Scotland as one in six Scots are currently on an NHS waiting list.
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Commenting on the latest figures, Scottish Labour's Health Spokesperson 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.
"With long queues at A&E and out-of-date hospitals, hard-working NHS staff are already stretched to breaking point.
"The SNP must act now to ensure that patients don't come to unnecessary harm because of the condition of the estate or overcrowding.
"Our NHS needs a new direction — a Scottish Labour government will modernise our hospitals and ensure they are fit for the future."
Scottish Ministers expect NHS Boards to be open with patients about what happened and to learn lessons to prevent it happening again when incidents like falls occur.
The Scottish Government has said they are committed to patient safety.
A 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."