Number of Scots patients rise as number of beds fall

THE number of patients using Scottish hospitals is increasing – while the number of beds is falling.

Figures showed there were around 370,000 inpatient and day cases reported in the three months ending in December – up around 2.4 per cent from the same period the previous year. Outpatient cases stood at 1,171,500 – up 1.8 per cent.

But the figures also revealed the number of available staffed beds stood at 16,085 by the end of 2012 – down 1.6 per cent from 16,340 beds in December 2011.

Scottish Labour’s Jackie Baillie said: “These cuts are worrying, because they are being made despite rising demand and fewer nursing staff.”

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