Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Paisley James Kenyon has said his party will “fix care to fix the NHS” after new figures highlighted delays for ambulances at local hospitals.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats say a shortage of care workers and care packages across Paisley and Renfrewshire is preventing patients from leaving hospital on time.
They argue this is reducing the number of available beds, including at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, leading to delays in ambulance turnaround times and increased pressure on emergency departments.
A freedom of information request by the party found that between 2022 and 2025, ambulances in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area spent a total of 316,439 hours waiting to turn around – the equivalent of 36 years.
In their manifesto, the party has committed to investing £400 million into care over the next three years. Proposals include creating dedicated key worker housing, introducing national bargaining on pay and conditions for care staff, moving to a seven-day hospital discharge model, and using the NHS app to help people arrange welfare power of attorney.
Mr Kenyon said: “Scottish Liberal Democrats will fix care to fix the NHS, improving healthcare for everyone across Paisley.
“Ambulances are massively delayed in leaving hospitals because there’s barely any space to receive new patients inside.
“Too many beds are occupied by people who are medically ready to leave but can’t because there are not enough care packages or care workers for them to do so.
“It’s why Scottish Liberal Democrats are so focused on getting to the root of the problem, fixing the crisis in care and saving our NHS here in Paisley and across Renfrewshire.
“By investing £400 million into care over the next three years, we will reward care workers with a new career ladder, ensuring we have the staff to let patients leave hospital on time, in turn helping ambulances get to everyone in need much more swiftly.
“After nineteen years, the SNP cannot be trusted with our health service in Paisley. If you want change with fairness at its heart, it’s time to back the Scottish Liberal Democrats particularly on your second, peach, regional ballot paper.”
Headline photo: James Kenyon outside the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where he highlighted ambulance delays and pressures on local services
Photo Credit: Renfrewshire Lib Dems