Professor John Robertson OBA
From Waiting times for pain management services Quarter ending 30 September 2025 published yesterday:
During the quarter ending 30 September 2025, 5,791 patients were referred to a pain management service. This compares to 5,838 referrals in the previous quarter, a decrease of 0.8%, and to 5,859 a year ago in the quarter ending 30 September 2024, a decrease of 1.2%.
During the same quarter, 3,510 patients attended their first outpatient appointment with a pain management service. This compares to 2,745 patients in the previous quarter, an increase of 27.9% and to 2,930 patients seen a year earlier in the quarter ending 30 September 2024, an increase of 19.8%.
Of those seen at a pain management service in the latest quarter, 55.2% of patients waited 12 weeks or less to be seen, compared to a quarterly average of 56.9% in January to June 2025 and 57.9% in 2024. The proportion of patients who experienced longer waits has increased. For instance, 14.5% of patients waited 52 weeks or more to be seen in the latest quarter, compared to an average each quarter of 12.4% in the first half of 2025 and 6.2% in 2024.1
In the last 12 months, 11 830 were treated, ie ‘total first attendances.‘ In NHS England the equivalent figure was 96 200.2
Pro rata with England, you might expect Scotland to have treated 9 620 but it treated 11 830, 2 210 or 23% more.
Though seeing 23% more patients Scotland still treated 55.2% within 12 weeks. NHS England managed 57%.
Patient Impact:
Longer waits can lead to worsened pain, reduced quality of life, and higher reliance on primary care.
Sources:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 