From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 30 September 2026 published today:

There were 26,484 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 4.6% more (+1,162) than the number planned in September 2025 (25,322). Over the course of the last 12 months, from October 2025 to September 2026 (309,720), there was a 5.4% increase (+15,744) compared to the previous 12 months (293,976). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021. The last 12 months of planned operations is 7.3% lower (-24,358) than the 12-month period immediately prior to March 2020 when the Covid pandemic began to affect planned operations.

Of all planned operations during September 2026 in NHS Scotland, 838 (3.2%) were cancelled the day before or on the day of treatment by the hospital for clinical reasons, 745 (2.8%) by the patient, 619 (2.3%) by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 119 (0.4%) for other reasons.

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

Only 5 years after the pandemic, NHS Scotland is back at 93% of the operating level before it. A huge achievement.

England’s main published activity figures are broader (completed elective care pathways, which include both inpatient/day-case procedures and a large volume of outpatient treatments). Absolute numbers are therefore not directly interchangeable so not directly comparable.