01/12/2025
Scotland’s population is ageing — and so is the need for better support for older people living with frailty.
Our ‘Hospital and community services for older people living with frailty in Scotland report’ provides an overview of services for older people living with frailty in Scotland.
By 2047, the number of people aged 65+ is projected to rise by 67%. As frailty progresses, people need more help to live well — from both health and social care services.
At Healthcare Improvement Scotland, our Focus on Frailty programme is working to improve care for older people in both hospitals and communities. Using quality improvement methods, we’re helping services adapt to meet growing needs and reduce pressure on hospitals.
Community services are making a real difference:
• 37% fewer GP appointments after wellbeing reviews
• 11% reduction in medicines after polypharmacy reviews — including those linked to falls and hospital admissions
Hospitals are seeing impact too:
• One hospital reduced average stay by 4 days, avoiding costs of up to £4.2 million a year by focusing on frailty
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland's Focus on Frailty programme is currently supporting 15 out of the 28 hospitals that accept emergency admissions. As of the end of September 2025, 87% (13/15) of hospitals that accept emergency admissions and are participating in the Focus on Frailty programme provided access to specialist staff in frailty teams. Over the same time period, 68% (19/28) of all hospitals that accept emergency admissions in Scotland reported that they provided access to specialist staff in frailty teams. The remaining hospitals that accept emergency admissions were working to understand the system or develop and design their frailty services.
But challenges remain. 15% of older people are readmitted within 28 days of discharge — each time increasing their frailty and care needs.
Improving how we identify and respond to frailty is key to helping older people live healthier, more independent lives.
Read our report to find out what’s working well and what the barriers are to making a meaningful difference for older people living with frailty. Link in comments.
