SCOTTISH LABOUR is calling on “disastrous” Humza Yousaf to quit as Health Secretary as figures published today shows that bed-blocking has cost Scotland more than £1.2 billion over the past decade.

The party’s analysis of figures on delayed discharge showed that since Mr Yousaf took on the role in May 2021, a total of 854,643 hospital days had been lost because of the problem.

Since 2013-14, a total of 5,095,429 days had been lost at a cost of more than £1.26bn, Labour says.

In 2021-22 alone, a total of 540,302 hospital-bed days were lost because of the problem —  when patients are fit to be discharged but have to stay in hospital while they wait for care arrangements to be put in place — costing £150 million.

From April to the end of October there were 382,389 days lost, at a cost of £111m, the party says.

In October the number of hospital beds occupied by people who were ready to be discharged reached a new record high with an average of 1,898 beds taken each day by people who were ready to leave hospital.

Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Years on from the SNP promising to end the deadly and costly practice of delayed discharge, the problem still persists and is in fact getting worse.

“This whopping cost to the taxpayer has built up on [First Minister] Nicola Sturgeon’s watch and the disastrous Health Secretary has allowed it to soar.”

Ms Baillie said that patients cannot be left in hospitals unnecessarily while the public purse is drained due to “poor provisions,” adding: “It’s time for Humza Yousaf to face the music and hand the role over to someone who is prepared to tackle the issue.”

Mr Yousaf said the Scottish government is “working hard with health boards and the care sector to ensure those that are clinically fit to be discharged are supported into more appropriate care, at home or in the social care sector.”

There is “unprecedented demand across our whole health and social care system,” he said.