By Professor John Robertson

From Public Health Scotland today:

The number of planned operations has been steadily increasing since pandemic restrictions first affected provision of services in March 2020. In the 12 months to March 2024, there was a 7.6% increase in the number of planned operations compared to the previous 12 months. 

Of all planned operations during March 2024 in NHS Scotland, 738 (3.1%) were cancelled by the hospital based on clinical reasons, 642 (2.7%) were cancelled by the patient, 480 (2%) were cancelled by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 90 (0.4%) were cancelled due to other reasons.

Medics and patients themselves may cancel operations for good reasons. Only those cancelled due to a lack of staffing or facilities can be taken as a negative indicator of performance or of the funding by Government to enable that performance. NHS Scotland consistently hits around 98%. To regularly hit 100% would require significant over-staffing and over resourcing, to cover unexpected staff absence or a major accident, at a level opposition parties would call waste.

Source:

https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/cancelled-planned-operations-month-ending-31-march-2024/