Serious NHS patient care incidents rise 55% in four years

Serious patient safety incidents recorded across Scotland’s health service have risen by more than half in four years, prompting fresh criticism of the Scottish Government’s handling of the NHS.

Incidents involving falls, delays in treatment as well as gynaecological and neonatal incidents saw the steepest increase, according to the data.

New figures obtained by Scottish Labour through freedom of information requests show that the number of Significant Adverse Event Reviews (SAERs) carried out across health boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service increased by 55% between 2020 and 2024.

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Source: The Herald, 1 December 2025