New figures appear to show a large number of older patients are being discharged from north-east hospitals at nighttime.
NHS Grampian figures show 953 patients over the age of 80 and 2,513 over the age of 65 were discharged overnight in 2013.
According to the figures – obtained by the Scottish liberal Democrats through a freedom of information (FOI) request – the national total of patients being discharged from Scottish hospitals at night has increased by about 5,000 on 2012’s figures.
However, an NHS Grampian spokeswoman said the FOI figures were “not an accurate reflection of true practice”.
She said: “Staff members will not necessarily update the system at the exact time of discharge but at a later time, when convenient, due to more pressing duties relating to patient care. It is that time that is recorded on the system.
“An in-patient is only discharged when it is clinically appropriate and following discussion with either them or their family.
“It must be emphasised that these figures record the time a patient was removed from the system, not the actual time of discharge.”
A Scottish Government spokesman agreed that the figures were “misleading”.
However, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, Jim Hume, said the FOI find was “worrying”.
He added: “Being admitted to hospital is a tremendously distressing experience without the added upset of being discharged late at night.”