CALLS have been made for an end to late-night hospital discharges after figures showed thousands of elderly people may have been sent home in the middle of the night.

More than 7000 patients over the age of 65 appear to have been discharged from hospital between 9pm and 9am last year, according to records obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats. The figures show 2,641 of these patients were over the age of 80.

But LibDem health spokesman Jim Hume said it was "concerning" that discharge times were not being recorded accurately.