Scottish Social Care Crisis: Up to 4,000 Annual Deaths While Awaiting Support
A stark warning has been issued by a leading industry figure, who claims that up to 4,000 people a year are dying while waiting for a social care place in Scotland. Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care – the representative body for independent social care services – has estimated the true scale of what he terms the 'hidden dying'.
The 'Hidden Dying' and Escalating Figures
Scottish Labour recently released data indicating that around 500 people a year die in hospital while waiting for a social care place. Previous statistics suggested the total figure for all deaths while waiting – including those at home – could be approximately 1,000 annually. However, Mr Macaskill believes the true number is far higher, based on limited available data and conversations with care home operators.
'If you were to do a calculation now, it would be closer to between 3,000 to 4,000,' Mr Macaskill stated. 'Every day we hear providers saying, "we know this person needed a care home place or care and support in their own home but they are not around anymore as they died".'
He described this group as 'the hidden dying', arguing that if they were lined up outside hospitals, there would be a social, media, and political outcry. 'But because it's only the families who know they are dying waiting to get the care and support they need, nobody talks about it. Would they have died anyway? Possibly. But the difference is they wouldn't have died without the lack of care support they deserve.'
Broader Data and Systemic Failures
Last month, figures disclosed following freedom of information requests revealed that 2,165 people died in hospital without medical reason between April 2021 and February this year. Separate data released by Scottish Labour shows 1,579 people died between 2022 and 2025 while waiting to be discharged.
Dr Robert Kilgour, founder and chairman of care home provider Renaissance Care, warned: 'Social care in Scotland is in intensive care. More care homes are sadly going to close, making vulnerable elderly homeless and some will tragically die due to the lack of proper government support. This will lead to more NHS bed-blocking, more cancelled operations and longer NHS waiting lists.'
Adam Stachura, policy director at Age Scotland, highlighted a critical issue: 'The authorities are not keeping tabs on it in a consistent and regular way. The impact on people's quality of life is dramatic, so why aren't the government and local authorities able to get a proper measure of this? The hidden dying should be in plain sight.'
Financial and Political Implications
According to Audit Scotland, delayed discharge cost the NHS £440 million in 2024-25. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar commented: 'Behind these figures are Scots who spent their last days stuck in hospital wards rather than at home surrounded by friends and family. The SNP's pledge to end bed blocking lies in tatters, along with so many other broken promises.'
The SNP's manifesto for the Holyrood elections stated it has 'far exceeded' a commitment to increase funding for social care 'and we are determined to go further, not least for the most complex cases'. It continued: 'We know there are people with significant and complex needs who often end up staying for longer in hospital than they need to because they don't have a package or the right home adaptations that work for them. We will address this and implement a new, recurring complex care investment for Scotland, beginning with £20 million. This will be delivered through Scotland's independent living fund direct to individuals and will free up around 400 beds in Scotland's hospitals.'
Calls for Action and Summit
In response to the crisis, Mr Macaskill has demanded a summit after the Holyrood elections to address the social care emergency and bed-blocking in hospitals. This call underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle the systemic failures in Scotland's social care system, which are contributing to preventable deaths and straining NHS resources.
