by Democrat reporter
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton today pressed the First Minister over support for social care, warning that the government will need to deliver additional funding to secure his party’s support.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, left, said: “Last time, I told the First Minister about former care worker Margaret MacGill who’d been in hospital for more than 400 nights. She is unable to get home because the carers just aren’t available.
“It’s now cost the NHS nearly £200,000 to keep her in hospital, when she doesn’t need or want to be there. Three weeks on, she is still in hospital.
“And Margaret’s not alone. This week, we learned that the number of people waiting for a care assessment or care package has gone up by 20% in the last year.
“So can I ask the First Minister, does he really think that his draft budget will fix the crisis in social care and get people like Margaret home?”
He added: “The First Minister knows we are prepared to vote for his budget if the measures in it are right. We are here to get things done.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats have secured some big wins through our negotiations around the budget already:
Money to back young entrepreneurs/ For colleges/ For the Northern Isles, removing peak ferry fares/ For faster autism and ADHD assessments
“But it is not yet enough to win our support. We will squeeze every penny we can out of this budget process.
“For business rates, for hospices, and – for the sake of people like Margaret MacGill – on social care.
“So can I ask the First Minister, is his government prepared to go further to win our support?
Public Health Scotland figures show that on 5 January 2026 there were 11,424 people waiting for either waiting on a social care assessment for a package of care or assessed and waiting for a care at home package.
That compares to 9,473 on 6 January 2025. The full figures are available here: Social care at home assessment and waiting for care package numbers – Google Sheets