From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 30 April 2026 published today, the above graph and:

There were 24,453 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 4.7% higher (+1,093) than the number planned in April 2025 (23,360). Over the course of the last 12 months, from May 2025 to April 2026 (308,365), there was a 7.6% increase (+21,716) compared to the previous 12 months (286,649). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021.

On their own, impressive increases but also (black dotted line) a steady increasing trend as we approach pre-pandemic recovery. Note also in the coloured columns, falling numbers of cancellations for the third month in a row.

Also:

Of all planned operations during April 2026 in NHS Scotland, 709 (2.9%) were cancelled the day before or on the day of treatment by the hospital for clinical reasons, 691 (2.8%) by the patient, 511 (2.1%) by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 79 (0.3%) for other reasons.

Note that only 2.1% of cancellations can be related to performance in any way when, for example, staff illness or a spike in serious incidents such as road accidents, overloaded staffing and/or facilities.

This is a fantastically efficient service which never gets any media recognition as they, instead, drool over Peter Murrell’s purchases.

Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/cancelled-planned-operations-month-ending-30-april-2026/