Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland
Click on the above.
Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON
Generally, I’d caution against using weekly data on NHS performance but comparing how A&E copes on special weeks such as the one around Christmas is suggestive of meaningful change.
Above, the percentage seen within 4 hrs in NHS Scotland Type 1 A&E departments suggests a significant improvement in that high pressure week around Christmas Day, of around 18%.
The monthly averages, also, confirm improvement. Remember that 3.5% increase is 3.5% of tens of thousands of patients.
You may be thinking, what if end December 2025 was milder, less icy, than end December 2022?
Both years are likely to have ice and slippery conditions, but 2025’s warnings suggest more widespread ice hazards with falling temperatures and snow showers.
Please Support Talking-up Scotland at:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-talking-up-scotland
Click on the above.
Or direct bank transfer at Sort Code 08-91-04 Account - 12266421 Name - JOHN ROBERTSON
Talking-up Scotland 
A record number of hip and knee replacements were carried out in 2024 than in 2019 (pre-Covid).
I expect the number of replacements carried out in 2025 will be even higher.
From 5 August 2025 –
https://www.gov.scot/news/record-numbers-of-hip-and-knee-operations-performed-last-year/
“There has been an increase in planned operations across NHS Scotland, as recent statistics reveal that the number of hip and knee arthroplasty operations reached an all-time high in 2024.
The statistics from The Scottish Arthroplasty Project reported that 17,399 first (primary) hip or knee replacements performed in NHS Scotland hospitals in 2024 compared to 15,908 in 2019.
The annual report also showed that over the last 10 years the mean length of hospital stays, for both primary hip and primary knee procedures, has decreased from 5 days to 2.6 days.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a looming problem affecting the supply of the bone cement required for these types of operations and this may affect the stats for this year.
The main supplier of this type of cement for the NHS is a company in Germany. They are having problems which are affecting supply and may take up to 2 months to get production up and running again. The NHS has about 2 weeks supply left which will have to be rationed in some way but won’t last for 2 months. This situation is likely to significantly impact the number of these operations that can be carried out.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/18/nhs-hip-and-knee-operations-threatened-by-bone-cement-supply-shortage
LikeLike