Thursday July 30th 2026
Photo by Zoshua Colah
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Catherine Hunter
The number of adults using emergency psychiatric hospital beds across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde between January and March has dropped since last year.
Statistics released by Public Health Scotland (PHS) show that during the first three months of 2026 there were 3,407 emergency bed days compared to 4,287 and 6,211 during the same period for 2025 and 2024 respectively.
There were more “emergency bed days” between April and June 2025 with 6,131 admissions compared to 4,516 in 2024, 7889 between July and September 2025 and 6,641 in 2024 and 6,574 between October and December 2025 and 4,893 in 2024.
The recent figures would suggest that despite the increase in emergency bed days in 2025 compared to 2024 the number appears to be on a downward trend.
It comes as research shows that the rate of emergency bed days for adults (over 18s) in psychiatric hospital beds following emergency admission was 4,697 per 100,000 adult population in Scotland.
The number sat at 3,871 per 100,000 adult population for the quarter-ending 31 March 2025.
Meanwhile, the percentage of discharges from a psychiatric hospital bed stay resulting in an emergency readmission to hospital within 28 days of discharge in Scotland was 5.9% compared to 7.4% for the quarter ending March 2025.
A spokesperson for for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Most admissions to inpatient psychiatric care are unplanned, with very few of these arranged in advance. As such, there will always be fluctuations in demand based on people’s needs.
“The data shows that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has generally followed the same broad trend as Scotland as a whole, with rates rising and falling at similar points over the period highlighted.
“In the most recent quarter (Jan-March 2026), the rate per 100,000 in NHSGGC was 3,407, compared to 4,287 in the same three months last year.
“This may reflect the availability of enhanced community-based services including the development of our Community Mental Health Acute Care Service, which offers rapid mental health assessments and treatment plans which aim to support individuals in managing their mental health needs in the community.
“Our Heads Up service provides information and advice on mental health, and signposts sources of support: Heads Up – Mental Health Support – NHSGGC.”
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