Operations activity still lower than pre-pandemic levels

Responding to Public Health Scotland figures published today which show that the number of planned operations far below pre-pandemic levels, with 16.2% fewer operations planned in September 2023 than were planned in September 2019, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“These statistics confirm that services are being overwhelmed, the backlogs are still getting worse and more patients are being left in pain waiting for essential operations.

“After eight months in post and NHS workers constantly warning they are at breaking point, Michael Matheson can’t escape the need to tear Humza Yousaf’s failed NHS Recovery Plan. It is what patients and staff deserve.

“A new plan must prioritise the recruitment and retention of staff through a burnout prevention strategy and a staff and social care assembly."