By Professor John Robertson

From Public Health Scotland on 2nd July 2024:

During May 2024, there were 25,657 operations planned to take place across NHSScotland. This is 6.4% higher than the number planned a year previously in May 2023 (24,125). • The number of planned operations has been steadily increasing since pandemic restrictions first affected provision of services in March 2020. In the 12 months from April 2023 to May 2024, there was an 8% increase in the number of planned operations compared to the previous 12 months. This compares to a 15.3% year-on-year increase when comparing year ending May 2023 to year ending May 2022.

Of all planned operations during May 2024 in NHSScotland, 764 (3%) were cancelled by the hospital based on clinical reasons, 736 (2.9%) were cancelled by the patient, 461 (1.8%) were cancelled by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 66 (0.3%) were cancelled due to other reasons.

Medics and patients themselves will cancel operations for good reason and only those caused by a temporary shortage of staff due to perhaps unforeseen illnesses or of operating theatres due to perhaps a surge of cases due to a major road accident or last minute GP referrals [1.8%] offer reasonable comment on performance.

98% plus is a fantastic level for any large organisation such as NHS Scotland and they do it month after month, year after year.

Footnote: No, I’m not giving up despite being up all night.

Source:

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