More than 864,000 Patients Are on the NHS Waiting List in Scotland
In 2022, the SNP government announced new targets to eradicate long waits, but they have not been achieved yet.
More than 864,000 patients in Scotland are on the waiting list for an appointment, tests, or hospital treatment, as per official data.
The latest data on NHS waiting times, published recently, show that 155,558 patients were waiting for hospital treatment as of June 30.
Additionally, there were 558,896 people waiting for outpatient appointments, which is a 3.6% increase from the previous quarter.
The report also indicated that 115,937 patients were waiting for a radiology test like CT and MRI. While long waits for radiology tests decreased overall, waits exceeding 26 weeks for an MRI increased by 12%.
Reactions
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr. Sandesh Gulhane expressed that the backlog in Scotland’s NHS has escalated under SNP leadership.
Related Stories
He emphasized the need for urgent action to address this growing situation.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie condemned the record number of Scots waiting for treatment.
She emphasized the urgency of taking action to support the NHS and ensure patients receive timely care.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats criticized the SNP for mismanaging the health system.
SNP Targets
In July 2022, the SNP government set new targets to eliminate long waits for appointments and treatment.
The targets have not been met yet, with ongoing waits exceeding the set deadlines.
The SNP has claimed to improve Scotland’s health service under their leadership.
They highlighted their efforts in reforming the healthcare system and investing in reducing waiting lists.
However, recent reports suggest that Britain’s hospital-based care performance has lagged behind other countries.
